Rodale Institute

Say hello to James Yelverton, one of our remarkable RIFT students who's here to make a lasting impact in farming! What brought you to Rodale Institute? 
 “After experiencing what real food, grown from some the richest soil on the globe, by the local indigenous people, is supposed to taste AND feel like, I began actively searching for ways and places to help me gain the knowledge and experience necessary to grow the kind of food that we’re all meant to consume.” What areas within agriculture are you most interested in?
 “Soil remediation, biodynamics, tropicals, and electroculture practices.” What are you hoping to do after graduating from the RIFT program? 
“I’m looking to be able to uses my ideas, along with the tools and resources gained from my time at Rodale, and implement them on any area of the planet that I feel called to go to.” Location: “My desire is to land somewhere in Brazil. But, there are other parts of the world that have always been appealing to me, like India, the Caribbean, parts of Central and South America, a few European countries, and New Zealand. Domestically, I like either Florida, Oregon, or maybe California.” Want to learn more about James and other RIFT students or apply for the 2025 Farmer Training Program? Head to the link in our bio for student bios and details on how to join us at our Kutztown, PA campus or our brand-new program in Salina, KS! : https://lnkd.in/ek6GHwXc

🌱 Webinar: Investigating the Benefits of Integrating Cover Crops into Organic Vegetable Systems 🌱 In this webinar, learn about the benefits of cover crops and the research projects we are working on at the California Organic Center. Get the latest updates on our research trial exploring the potential benefits of cover crops for vegetables such as squash, peppers, and eggplants. Hear about the impact cover crops have on soil fertility, weed suppression, crop yield, and more! 📅 Date: Wednesday, October 30th 🕒 Time: 1:30 - 3:30 PM EDT 💻 Where: Virtual 🔗 Save your spot today! Register here: https://lnkd.in/eNiBWMHB

🌽 Join us for Maiz Field Day On November 17th, immerse yourself in the world of maiz! Explore how to grow organic corn for masa in Ventura County, discover business opportunities in maiz production, and learn about accessing loans, health resources, and legal advocacy for farmers. Plus, gain valuable insights on distribution, marketing, and connecting with wholesale opportunities. We’ll wrap it up with a delicious organic meal featuring local maíz and a corn seed swap to take home. All presentations will be live translated into Spanish, Mixtec, and English. Don’t miss this chance to dig deeper into the potential of maiz in regenerative agriculture! 🌾 RSVP now to secure your spot! https://lnkd.in/e5bFxwpJ

Join us on October 28th, 2024, for the “Fall into Organic Practices: Farmer Field Walk” at Lola’s Organic Farm in Glenwood, GA. This educational workshop will run from 10 AM to 2 PM and is geared toward current and transitioning organic farmers eager to learn about organic technical assistance programs and effective organic practices, with a particular emphasis on cover crops and soil health in organic systems. Participants will enjoy a guided tour led by Jennifer and Ron, Owners and Farmers, where they’ll explore the rich history of Lola’s Organic Farm and delve into various organic practices and soil health strategies. Experts will discuss more about soil health practices in organic systems and organic citrus management. Following the farm tour, attendees can participate in a Q&A session with technical service providers, gaining insights into current organic programs and the journey to USDA Organic certification. Lunch will be provided at no cost, but registration is required. Farmers will also have the opportunity to connect with organic technical providers on-site and receive personalized technical assistance. Don’t miss this chance to enhance your knowledge and network with fellow farmers and organic experts in the field! For more information and registration, please visit:  https://lnkd.in/eeD9-Rp5 This program is funded and support by the USA SE TOPP Program.

At the State of Regenerative Agriculture, Arash Ghalehgolabbehbahani of the Rodale Institute reminded us that soil is at the #root of the agricultural supply chain, and it deserves the spotlight! 💡 Combining our knowledge of soil systems with advanced technology and research is pivotal to overcoming agricultural obstacles, and Arash encouraged the younger generation at #SORA to tackle these challenges! 🔬 🌎 Check out more of Arash's insights below! 🌱 #NYClimateWeek

🌱🥕 Today marks the final day of our Employee CSA for the season! 🌱🍅Since May, our amazing RIFT students have planted, harvested, and packaged fresh organic produce as part of their hands-on curriculum. Throughout the season, they have shared 8,000 pounds of delicious produce with our team! Employees have eagerly picked up their weekly shares, swapping recipes and meal ideas to make the most of each harvest!

🌱💡 Curious about how UV rays could impact organic greenhouse lettuce production? Join our expert speakers Arash Ghalehgolabbehbahani, Gladis Zinati, , and Madhav Dhakal next Wednesday, October 23, from 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM EST, as they dive into groundbreaking research on alternative solutions to powdery mildew. Discover how these technologies stack up against OMRI certified chemicals in terms of plant growth and nutrient quality, straight from the Rodale Institute Pocono Organic Center. Supported by the N.E. SARE Partnership Grant. Don’t miss out! 🥬 🌿For more information and to register, please visit the link below! https://lnkd.in/egrGUn6v

Applications for Rodale Institute's 2025 Farmer Training Program are open! Whether you're interested in spending 9 months at our Kutztown, PA campus or joining our new program in Salina, KS in partnership with Kansas Wesleyan University , we’d love to have you be a part of it. Veterans, we’ve got something just for you—be sure to check out our veteran-specific program! To learn more about our Farmer Training programs please visit: https://lnkd.in/exFqniXE

Meet Gigi Copeland, a second year fellow in our RIFT program! What brought you to Rodale Institute?
 "In November 2022 I had seen an advert on Facebook for the RIFT program and thought at the time, if I didn’t need to worry about money, I would do this in a heartbeat.  I had been trying to farm on a small scale on my own and immediately understood how RIFT could help me be successful.  Two weeks later, I found myself out of a job and I applied for the program!" What areas within agriculture are you most interested in?
 "I am working towards doing mostly perennials – herbs, berries, fruit trees, as well as cut flowers and natural dye plants for fiber arts.  In the future I will expand to agroforestry as I have three acres of woods to work with on the farm." What are you hoping to do after graduating from the RIFT program?
 "I would love to be able to farm full time, but more realistically I will probably work for a few more years and then “retire” to my farm. I am a co-owner of Boo Cat Farm, LLC and have 6.5a in Oley Valley, PA. The plan is to continue to expand on my property." To learn more about Gigi and other RIFT students, check out their bios and contact information here: https://lnkd.in/eFdvd5eb Inspired by Gigi’s journey? Apply now for Rodale Institute’s 2025 Farmer Training Program! Choose between our Kutztown, PA campus or our new location in Salina, KS: https://lnkd.in/eGyt6aCa

Meet Sydney Foreman, one of the amazing students in our RIFT program! What brought you to Rodale Institute?  Sydney Foreman is a recent graduate from Indiana University (IU) with a degree in Geography focused in food and agriculture systems. Over her baccalaureate career she studied the distribution of people, growers, food, and food access through global commodity chains and resources. In the summer of 2022 she decided to try her hand at regenerative farming herself and did a 3 month work stay program on a diversified vegetable and livestock farm in southern Indiana. There she fell in love with the act of land stewardship and growing food for her local community. After this experience she knew that she wanted to take a pragmatic approach to her studies at IU and work to decentralize the food system while fostering a more food sovereign nation by becoming a regenerative farm and storefront owner — selling only truly locally grown and raised products. Sydney applied to the RIFT program to gain the practical growing and business skills that are central to the success of her future goals. What areas within agriculture are you most interested in? 
 Sydney is interested in creating an agricultural space that can act as a role model for regenerative farming. This meaning, a space that welcomes in the community with events such as classes, book clubs, or harvest parties to facilitate conversation and idea exchange about our current food system and food sources. Spreading knowledge about food origins and sharing food sovereignty skills is at the top of Sydney’s passions for becoming a grower. On her future farm she imagines a variety of products to be grown in a market garden style including pastured hens for eggs and vegetables including popcorn, okra, peppers, berries and more. However, to begin she imagines a dried herb business as she understands the holes in the local food market and gauges community interest in certain food based classes, events, and clubs. What are you hoping to do after graduating from the RIFT program? 
 After graduating the RIFT program Sydney hopes to find employment with a company who values equitable food distribution, education, and advocacy for a socially responsible future of our food system. In the meantime, she hopes to find the right piece of land and community to start her small farm business. Location: Sydney is from the midwest but is open to relocating to wherever her agricultural knowledge and passions are most needed. To learn more about Sydney and other RIFT students, check out their bios and contact information here: https://lnkd.in/eFdvd5eb Inspired by Sydney’s journey? Apply now for Rodale Institute’s 2025 Farmer Training Program! Choose between our Kutztown, PA campus or our new location in Salina, KS: https://lnkd.in/eGyt6aCa