Rooting In
Hands-on Experience & Knowledge Building
Action Guide
LEARN BY DOING
Join workshops, apprenticeships, or volunteer on local farms to build hands-on skills.
TARGETED LEARNING
Mastering diverse ‘skill-stack’ will support your passion for growing food into a resilient, profitable, and sustainable farm business.
Community, Mentorship, and Inspiration
Build mentor relationships, join networks, and note what inspires you to guide your next steps.
PURPOSE
Gain foundational skills through hands-on practice, mentorship, and community connections. This stage emphasizes curiosity, humility, and learning from the land.
Why It Matters
You can’t learn farming from a book alone. Experiencing the day-to-day rhythm of planting, harvesting, and caring for soil and livestock builds confidence and helps identify the type of farm and community that suits you.
Learn by Doing
Learning by doing through an apprenticeship allows you to build essential “muscle memory” and technical skills while test-driving the lifestyle to see which parts of the farm actually spark your passion
Exploring multiple farms can help you find your preferred growing style and community. Volunteer to learn different operations, crop types, and farm scales. Most farms have apprenticeships or welcome volunteers—you can Google local farms and email or call directly. During the summer, farmers are out in the field and can be less responsive, so reaching out in mid- to late winter is often ideal. Here are some apprenticeships that are also worth exploring:
PROGRAM
LOCATION
AUDIENCE / LEVEL
CORE SKILLS & CURRICULUM
UNIQUE FEATURES / DISTINCTIVES
Aspen, Colorado
Adults (18+) aspiring
to farm, Teens
Regenerative agriculture, soil health, seed-to-harvest production, infrastructure, marketing, community engagement, and farm business foundations
Includes on-site housing; hands-on training at high altitude; integrates education, production, and community programs
Hesperus, Colorado (Fort Lewis College Old Fort)
Beginning and intermediate farmers
High-elevation vegetable production, crop planning, irrigation, soil health, farm tools, and business planning
Combines classroom instruction with fieldwork; training tailored to mountain conditions; strong connection with Fort Lewis College programs
Hesperus, Colorado (Fort Lewis College Old Fort)
Aspiring ranchers and livestock managers
Grazing systems, pasture management, fencing, irrigation, animal husbandry, and ranch infrastructure
Focused on livestock and rangeland systems; seasonal, immersive field experience
Silt, Colorado
Youth (14–17)
Hands-on vegetable production, food systems education, leadership, teamwork, and life skills
Paid youth crew program; integrates farming with leadership and personal growth; community service and mentorship included
Denver Metro Area, Colorado
BIPOC beginning farmers and food justice advocates
Regenerative farming, soil health, crop planning, cultural and food sovereignty, and land justice
Centers BIPOC voices and equity; combines agricultural training with community organizing and cultural reconnection
Denver & Lakewood, Colorado
Urban growers, students, and career changers
Urban agriculture, CSA and market operations, composting, crop rotation, community programming, and education
Operates on urban farms
and school sites; integrates production with community engagement and food
access work
Roaring Fork Valley
Adults
Organic vegetable production, soil building, seasonal planning, hands-on regenerative techniques
Focus on ecological farming, environmental education, and integrating farming with conservation work; housing
Hotchkiss,
Colorado
Adults and
emerging farmers
Regenerative agriculture,
soil health, biodiversity, agroecology, ecological stewardship, community-based farming
7-month immersive fellowship; combines hands-on farm experience, leadership development, mentorship, and community service; emphasizes ecological farming and local food system engagement
Various Locations
Adults, inclusion focused
Regenerative agriculture, soil health, crop planning, business skills, market access
Committed to equity and ensuring historically marginalized communities (including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, LGBTQIA2S+, women, refugees, immigrants, and veterans) have access to affordable farmer training
Exploring multiple farms can help you find your preferred growing style and community. Volunteer to learn different operations, crop types, and farm scales. Most farms have apprenticeships or welcome volunteers—you can Google local farms and email or call directly. During the summer, farmers are out in the field and can be less responsive, so reaching out in mid- to late winter is often ideal. Here are some apprenticeships that are also worth exploring:
PROGRAM
LOCATION
AUDIENCE / LEVEL
CORE SKILLS & CURRICULUM
UNIQUE FEATURES / DISTINCTIVES
Aspen, Colorado
Adults (18+) aspiring
to farm, Teens
Regenerative agriculture, soil health, seed-to-harvest production, infrastructure, marketing, community engagement, and farm business foundations
Includes on-site housing; hands-on training at high altitude; integrates education, production, and community programs
Hesperus, Colorado (Fort Lewis College Old Fort)
Beginning and intermediate farmers
High-elevation vegetable production, crop planning, irrigation, soil health, farm tools, and business planning
Combines classroom instruction with fieldwork; training tailored to mountain conditions; strong connection with Fort Lewis College programs
Hesperus, Colorado (Fort Lewis College Old Fort)
Aspiring ranchers and livestock managers
Grazing systems, pasture management, fencing, irrigation, animal husbandry, and ranch infrastructure
Focused on livestock and rangeland systems; seasonal, immersive field experience
Silt, Colorado
Youth (14–17)
Hands-on vegetable production, food systems education, leadership, teamwork, and life skills
Paid youth crew program; integrates farming with leadership and personal growth; community service and mentorship included
Denver Metro Area, Colorado
BIPOC beginning farmers and food justice advocates
Regenerative farming, soil health, crop planning, cultural and food sovereignty, and land justice
Centers BIPOC voices and equity; combines agricultural training with community organizing and cultural reconnection
Denver & Lakewood, Colorado
Urban growers, students, and career changers
Urban agriculture, CSA and market operations, composting, crop rotation, community programming, and education
Operates on urban farms
and school sites; integrates production with community engagement and food
access work
Roaring Fork Valley
Adults
Organic vegetable production, soil building, seasonal planning, hands-on regenerative techniques
Focus on ecological farming, environmental education, and integrating farming with conservation work; housing
Hotchkiss,
Colorado
Adults and
emerging farmers
Regenerative agriculture,
soil health, biodiversity, agroecology, ecological stewardship, community-based farming
7-month immersive fellowship; combines hands-on farm experience, leadership development, mentorship, and community service; emphasizes ecological farming and local food system engagement
Various Locations
Adults, inclusion focused
Regenerative agriculture, soil health, crop planning, business skills, market access
Committed to equity and ensuring historically marginalized communities (including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, LGBTQIA2S+, women, refugees, immigrants, and veterans) have access to affordable farmer training
Community, Mentorship & Inspiration
Farming is built on relationships. Workshops, meet-ups, and local groups connect you to mentors, peers, and educators
Western Colorado / Roaring Fork Valley
Front Range / Boulder Area
StateWide
Globally
Targeted Learning
