The Incubator Farm

Click here and get to know the inaugural farmers at the NOFA-NJ Incubator Farm!

What is this "Incubator Farm?" Our Incubator Farm is a land leasing arrangement for beginning farmers awho have farming experience and a business idea, but do not have access to land. It is a low-risk environment to launch your farming business and "test" your idea. You will have access to multiple acres of deer-fenced, irrigated land with equipment, business planning and marketing support plus barn space! The farm is located in Hillsborough, NJ at Duke Farms. Farmers who are accepted onto the Incubator Farm will also have access to educational scholarships. We are currently accepting applications! 

Before we launch this exciting program, we have an appeal -- please see below and spread the word!

Incubator Farm WISH LIST, JULY 2012

As we embark on one of the most important sustainability projects in NJ in this decade and start to build the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Jersey’s Beginner Farmer/Rancher Development Program Incubator, we are hoping all our members and other generous folks in the communities surrounding us will help support our efforts through generous donations. With extra funds and equipment from you we will be helping the next generation of farmers learn the art, science and craft of farming.

To launch our fundraising efforts we are developing a KICKSTARTER fundraising campaign online, which will start in September 2012. Please go to www.kickstarter.com to see our project and donate directly to the program if you’d like.

While we are funded by the USDA NIFA grant, this funding does not cover capital improvements, equipment, tools, etc. Fortunately we are launching our program at Duke Farms where we will receive support in the form of land, fencing, water, a barn, etc. But we need more than that to make this a reality. As any farmer, or even gardener knows, good equipment is important in order to do a good job.

We hope you’ll check your barns, lofts, sheds, attics and basements for equipment you no longer need or are trading in. We only ask that your donations are in usable shape.

Thank you so much for thinking of us, while you help NJ’s food supply grow and be more sustainable over time.  We couldn’t appreciate it more.

Sincerely,

The leadership and staff of NOFA-NJ

If you are able to contribute to this cause, please fill out the form below:

Funding for the Beginning Farmer Program is provided in part by the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA, Grant # 2011-49400-30739.