POLLINATE! is a paid training program for queer, trans, Black, Indigenous and people of color (QTBIPOC), beginner farmers interested in cooperative farm business models that center equitable food access. The purpose is to equip QTBIPOC farmers with farming skills, supplemental resources and supportive relationships to inspire more QTBIPOC led farming initiatives. This program is grounded in intentional care for our queer* and trans farming community and dedication to share the lessons we’ve gathered through our own farming experience. Check out our POLLINATE! Film to see the stories of 11 past Pollinators.

*Queer for us contains and includes multitudes of identities and expressions – lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, asexual, intersex, transgender and all expressions of our gender rebel siblings, including those who identify as gender non-conforming, non-binary and two-spirit.

POLLINATE! is inspired by the enlivening work that pollinators contribute to the health of our ecosystem as griots of the land. As bees move from plant to plant, they transmit information about the overall health of the environment captured in each bit of pollen that supports shaping the landscape. We welcome this form of knowledge sharing as an affirmation of the immense wisdom that queer and trans* farmers transmit through intentional and collaborative farming experiences.

Unfortunately, there are too many existing barriers for QT beginner farmers to apply their wisdom and gain experience in this field. For example, extremely low wages have been normalized in our food system. Currently, at least 33% of farmworkers are living below the poverty line. The average hourly wage is $10.60, and benefits like sick leave and health insurance are extremely rare. For farmers of color, women and LGBTQIA+ farmers, there are even more obstacles to a safe and stable workplace (many of us have firsthand experience with this) – and yes, these injustices show up on organic, sustainable farms, too. We have also experienced the exploitative way apprenticeship programs have been used as cheap or free labor, perpetuating the violent and extractive history of farming in the US for Black, Indigenous, and people of color.

Additionally, we see a serious imbalance between the qualifications needed to enter production farming and the opportunities available to learn skills and gain experience to do this work. A majority of northeastern farming apprenticeship programs currently require 1+ years of intensive, large-scale production farming experience, limiting learning opportunities for new farmers. Consequently, job opportunities are limited for new farmers that cannot fulfill the expectations of having 1-3+ years of production farming experience on 1 acre or more of land, required by many for-profit farms. This adds an extra barrier to urban farmers who do not have the space to qualify for these jobs and programs.

For all of these reasons, it is important for us to navigate the designing and implementation of this program with dedicated intention, reflection, feedback and support of community partners. We firmly believe that farmer care – especially for LGBTQ+ folks and Black, Indigenous and non-Black people of color – is inextricably linked to food access, climate justice and equity.

In 2021, we launched our pilot POLLINATE! program in order to learn how to make our vision a reality. The pilot program welcomed beginner queer and trans farmers in the Farm School NYC program to participate in a paid seven day program at Rock Steady Farm. Pollinators were immersed in our weekly farm operations (i.e harvesting, weeding, transplanting, wash-pack, CSA pack-out, etc.) and feedback sessions to help us shape the future of the Pollinate program. This pilot program grew into our two-week paid program for beginner queer and trans farmers. Through this process we gleaned a lot of lessons about how to create a supportive environment for both program participants and farm staff. We are also beginning to integrate support structures for alumni beyond the program to encourage community building among alumni and strengthen mentorship opportunities with RSF staff. We are excited to continue learning from this process and grow into our vision for QTBIPOC centered educational training on the land.

2023

2022

The POLLINATE! Program is a paid two week training program for QTBIPOC beginner farmers, interested in learning about Rock Steady Farm’s cooperative farming model and operation. Our intention is to share a snapshot of all RSF operations and relationships that sustain our work to support emerging QTBIPOC farmer-led projects. To do so, Pollinators will learn alongside RSF farmers through hands-on participation in field tasks ranging from harvesting, planting, packing CSA boxes and daily workshops focused on:

>Worker-Owned Cooperatives

>Food Access Model

>Community Partnerships

>Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

>Harvest and Post-Harvest protocols

>Irrigation and Crop Management

>Greenhouse Management

>Farm Finances

Each day will consist of about 4 hours of hands-on farm work, 2 hours of instruction and 1 hour of independent or group reflection and/or feedback activities, along with optional evening/weekend educational/community building activities. Additionally, Pollinators will have the chance to visit local farms that showcase the diversity in farming models, practices and visions that make up our food system. Finally, Pollinators are encouraged to offer a skill-share for RSF staff as a way to close their time at RSF and uplift the power of cross pollinating ideas and models.

Read Full Program Description HERE

Eligibility:

>Identify as a queer, trans, Black, Indigenous and/or person of color

>Identify as a beginner farmer and/or land steward, with a minimum of 1 year of cumulative farming, food justice, and/or land stewardship experience at any scale

>Current resident of the northeastern region (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Washington D.C, and Pennsylvania)

>Currently practicing or planning to farm, using cooperative models, within the next five years. Farming at a scale that can support the wider community and not just a single household

>Committed to deepen relationship with other Pollinate alumni by attending virtual orientation meetings, reunions and related events

>Willing to provide a self-assessment of skills and experience prior to the start of the program, in order to shape the planning and facilitation of training materials

>Committed to giving feedback to help shape the program experience for future participants

>Committed to practicing clear, open and honest communication in order to share ideas, suggestions, questions, accommodation requests, and feedback

>Committed to upholding Rock Steady Farm's community agreements

>Ages 18+

>We will also prioritize applicants that demonstrate a strong integration of food justice and food sovereignty principles into their farming practices and goals.

To Apply:

>Review FULL 2024 Program Description document that outlines all major components of the program

>OPTIONAL: attend the info session on Tuesday, January 9th, 2024 6:30PM-7:30PM EST (watch the recording of the 2023 info session here)

>Fill out the POLLINATE 2024 application

>Application deadline: February 2nd, 2024 11:59PM EST.

The review committee composed of Rock Steady staff will do an initial review of applications and follow up with selected applicants for an interview.

Confirmations will be sent out by April 1st, 2024 (dates are pending and might shift, we will notify if we need any extensions on the selection process)

The HIVE is our POLLINATE! Alumni Program. We believe it’s important to continue to provide a space for Pollinators to come back, share their stories and support each other. We are building this program to include exclusive workshops, mentorship opportunities, land access support, financial support, and reunion retreats to rest and build community. Stay tuned for more information on how the HIVE takes shape!