Farmer Agroforestry Cohort

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A group stands on a farm, talking.

The Farmer Agroforestry Cohort is a two-year shared learning opportunity bringing together farmers in Vermont to explore how diverse agroforestry systems can build long-term farm and food system resilience. Cohort farmers will enter into a dynamic learning community to build their knowledge of complex agroforestry system design and management. Through technical workshops, peer-to-peer discussion, farm visits, and more, cohort participants learn together and successfully design and implement custom agroforestry projects on their own farms. 

The cohort begins with a day-long agroforestry intensive in late May, followed by a series of monthly learning opportunities shaped by the interests and goals of the cohort members. Participants will also come together multiple times throughout the program to provide one another feedback and support. Over time, cohorts will help form a vibrant network of farmers working to cultivate a diverse, resilient, and tree-filled agricultural landscape across Vermont. 

Applications are due March 17, 2025, for a cohort starting in the spring of 2025. This cohort is intended for commercial farmers serious about implementing agroforestry systems on their farms in the near future and who are excited by farmer-to-farmer learning. 

 

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Questions? Contact Kevin Haggerty at [email protected] or 802-419-0063

Program Details
Program Offerings

The content and learning opportunities offered through this program are largely created collaboratively by the participants; these include a day-long agroforestry intensive, in-depth design workshop, and monthly learning opportunities aligning with the agroforestry topics most relevant to farm businesses of participants. This cohort is intended to be a space for participants to come together and learn from and with one another, while at the same time offering the opportunity to connect to the broader agroforestry community in Vermont. Over the two years, participants will also receive support in the design of their own agroforestry projects developed to meet their unique farm goals. 

Schedule

The cohort launches in late May 2025 with a day-long agroforestry intensive. The monthly gatherings that follow will be planned based on the cohort’s collective goals, following the rough schedule below.

Year 1

SpringSummerFallWinter

Agroforestry Intensive

Design Workshop

Monthly Agroforestry Field DaysIndividual Agroforestry Design PresentationsVirtual Monthly Gatherings

Year 2

SpringSummerFall
Individual Project Installation

Monthly Agroforestry Field Days

Cohort Farm Visits

Closing Celebration and Reflection
Cost

This program is free for participants. This program is supported by a Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities grant and the material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, under agreement number NR233A750004G025.

Application Instructions

Applications for the 2025 cohort will close on March 17, 2025. Participants will be notified mid April and cohort meetings will begin at the end of May. 

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