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Boots to Bushels farmer training for New England

Military veterans, family members and beginner farmers invited to join market garden program; next class starts in January

URI’s Boots to Bushels farmer training gives military veterans and other beginning farmers the chance to learn skills like Westin Palumbo, shown, a senior in the University’s sustainable agriculture and food systems program.

KINGSTON, R.I. – Dec. 9, 2024 – The University of Rhode Island’s Cooperative Extension is welcoming applications for the second year of a program that connects New England military veterans and beginning farmers with opportunities in agriculture. The University of Rhode Island Boots to Bushels program is a comprehensive nine-month market garden training program for beginning farmers, military veterans, and their family members. 

The winter program, which starts in January, offers online classes and farm tours that focus on building a sustainable farm business and connecting learners with agricultural resources for sustainable farming practices.

Registration for the next session is open through Dec. 31.

Tricia Lourenco Boucher, Boots to Bushels program director and a military veteran, says the program began as a way to connect veterans with careers in agriculture; along the way, it also expanded to include beginning farmers and those from underserved populations.

Air Force veteran Jonathan George ’26 is one participant in Boots to Bushels. Applications for the next session are due by Dec. 31.

“We had a very successful first year,” she says, “with about 28 online participants from across the Northeast. We are looking forward to this upcoming year with lots of great subject matter experts including a business mentor. We also changed the time to evenings with the hopes to reach more participants. The class is really for anyone, but especially veterans who are considering starting a small farm but don’t know where to start.”

The course runs from Jan. 21 through March 27 with classes held via zoom on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Classes will be taught by agricultural experts from across the Northeast, from Pasa Sustainable Agriculture, Land for Good, AgrAbility, and Land & Sea Together, with additional speakers from the Natural Resources Conservation Service and Farm Service Agency.

In the spring and summer, there will be optional farm tours across Rhode Island and Maine, offering valuable opportunities to learn and build relationships from farmers with boots on the ground. 

Boucher says, “If you are considering B2B but are not from Rhode Island or Maine, and would like to attend a farm tour, we can help facilitate other options closer to you. Many farmers are happy to share their knowledge.”

The final stage of the program includes optional summer workshops at URI’s Kingston Campus. These hands-on opportunities offer added perspective on farming and are free for participants who complete the course.  

“This program helps to make those connections and provide practice in the many skills needed to be successful in farming,” says Boucher. “It’s a program that makes sense, both for veterans to continue to serve their country through land stewardship and through providing food to their communities. I’m excited about the potential of Boots to Bushels to have a lasting impact on veterans, beginning farmers and our food system.”

Scholarships are available for veterans with limited resources. Please email telourenco@uri.edu to learn more scholarship opportunities.

To learn more or apply, visit here. Applications are due by Dec. 31.

Cooperative Extension strives to reach every corner of Rhode Island, providing science-based information through educational programs and services for people to apply to their everyday lives. For more information or to get updates on future training sessions, email telourenco@uri.edu.