Interested in Farm Work?

The Merrymeeting Food Council coordinated the launch of a pilot Farm Skills Training Program in the Spring of 2022 and is preparing for our third session in 2024.

• Maine has 7,600 farms ranging widely in size and agricultural practices.

• The southern MidCoast region in home to more than 30 farms that hire for part time and full time jobs.

• The part-time training program helps participants learn the skills needed for farm jobs and to grow their own food. 

Photos of some of the 2022 Farm Skills Training participants and trainers at Growing to Give.

Photo credit: Kelsey Kobik.

More information

Program Schedule:

• Prior to the official start of the program, participants have three weeks to work with Goodwill advisors to enroll, assess what general workplace skills you would like support with, and set employment goals. This portion of the training is not paid.

• The program includes both off and on-farm training and requires a commitment of 6-10 hrs/wk, spread across 2-3 days. We will work with selected participants to optimize the final training schedule for 2024.

• Our 2022 and 2023 schedules included full group trainings on Monday and Friday from 3:30-5:30 and occasional Saturday morning 2 hour farm tours. Participants joined on-farm training sessions on either Wednesday or Saturday from 9-1 at Growing to Give.

Sample Schedule for Farm Skills Training Program:

Off-Farm Training:

• Participants will have a network of support including the Farm Skills Program Coordinator, Growing to Give staff, and Goodwill Workforce Solutions staff.

  • The Goodwill Workforce Solutions staff will work with participants to offer training in financial and digital literacy, interview skills, workplace expectations or other job skills as needed. They will support job applications and remain a point of contact and support for participants for up to a year after beginning this program. They can also work with participants to address any barriers to participation including needed work clothing, childcare, etc.

• Area farmers, Maine Organic Farmers’ and Gardeners Association staff, and University of Maine Cooperative Extension staff will give tours and teach workshops to highlight the variety of farm operations in the region and teach skills needed for success in a farm job.

• Off-farm trainings will be within a 30 minute drive of Brunswick and transportation will be available to anyone.

On-Farm Training:

• Participants will work alongside Merrymeeting Gleaners and other volunteers at Growing to Give, a food bank farm in Brunswick.

• Participants can expect to be on the farm 1-2 times each week beginning in early April.

• Training will occur while helping grow, harvest, and organize produce for delivery and donation to food access partners throughout the region.

• Participants will learn skills such as planting, transplanting, tool care, produce washing, and soil management.

Learn more:

• Benefits and Drawbacks of Farm Work Experience in Maine (PDF)

• 2021 University of Maine Cooperative Extension Farm Worker Compensation Survey (link)

• Orienting New Farm Employees in Maine: A Checklist for Maine Agricultural Employers (link)

Farm Skills Training Program Design Partners

Goodwill Workforce Solutions

Growing to Give

Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA)

Merrymeeting Gleaners & MidCoast Hunger Prevention Program (MCHPP)

Tedford Housing

University of Maine Cooperative Extension

This collaborative program is enabled by our generous funders, volunteers, and support from our founders and fiscal sponsors: Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust and Kennebec Estuary Land Trust.