Organic Farmers

Watch the documentary film The Greenhorns, directed by Severine von Tscharner Fleming, owner of Smithereen Farm in Hudson River Valley, New York. The film features conversations with young farmers across the country—those who deliberately set out to become farmers, and those who "accidentally" fell into it. The film advocates for choosing agriculture as a career. You can learn more about The Greenhorns and find other resources, such as "The Greenhorns Guide for Beginning Farmers," by visiting https://greenhorns.org.

Another excellent way to explore the field (without breaking a sweat) is by reading books such as Ann Larkin Hansen's The Organic Farming Manual (North Adams, Mass.: Storey Publishing, 2010) and Peter V. Fossel's The New Organic Grower: A Master's Manual of Tools and Techniques for the Home and Market Gardener (White River Junction, Vt.: Chelsea Green Publishing, 2018).

Organizations such as the National 4-H Council (https://4-h.org) and the National FFA Organization (https://www.ffa.org) offer good opportunities for learning about, visiting, and participating in farming activities. Agricultural colleges often have their own farms where students can gain actual experience in farm operations in addition to classroom work.

If you are between the ages of five and 22, you can join the National Junior Horticulture Association, which offers horticulture-related projects, contests, and other activities, as well as career information. Visit http://www.njha.org for more information.