¼-acre plot with water
Drip irrigation, tool library and covered wash station included in lease.
Spring cohort applications close March 15. Twelve seats for new entrant farmers.Apply now
Regenerative farming incubator · Hudson Valley, New York
Three years of land, mentorship and a market for your first harvest.
Hearth Land Project is a nonprofit incubator that leases ¼-acre plots, pairs new farmers with mentors and buys their first crops for a cooperative CSA. Cohort members take soil health classes, build compost systems and leave with a business plan lenders have already seen. We are not a bootcamp; you grow real food for real neighbors. Graduates keep relationships with buyers we introduce, and alumni return to teach the crop planning workshop every January.
Founded 2019. 46 graduates now farming on their own land.
Land, coaching and a guaranteed buyer
Each cohort runs January through October with winter business intensives.
Weekly mentor field walks
Rotating mentors for soil, pest scouting and harvest planning.
Co-op CSA purchase
We buy up to $8,000 of your first-season produce for our 400-member CSA.
Lender night
Local credit union reviews your plan and explains FSA microloans. Bring projected cash flow and leave with a document checklist for your loan appointment.
Spring cohort starts in
Waitlist members get first notice when applications open each November. Orientation covers tools, safety and your plot assignment before the ground thaws.
The campus
Twenty-two acres in Columbia County with classroom, walk-in cooler, tool barn and covered wash line.
Graduate voices
“The co-op purchase let me prove cash flow before asking the bank for land.”
“Mentor walks were blunt about what would not sell at CSA pickup. Saved me a season.”
“My kids took the soil class with me. They still talk about the compost thermometers.”
Join the cohort waitlist
We email when applications open and host one virtual info night each season.
Program FAQ
Is there tuition?
Sliding scale $1,200 to $3,600 based on income. Scholarships available.
Can I keep livestock?
Small flocks by approval. We provide fencing guidelines.
Do I need farming experience?
One season of volunteer or intern experience required.
What happens after three years?
Graduates get alumni mentoring and introductions to land trusts.
Is housing available on campus?
Three seasonal cabins rent below market for cohort members who relocate from the city.
Can I sell outside the co-op?
Yes after the guaranteed purchase cap. We help you price for farmers markets and restaurant accounts.
What tools does the campus provide?
Shared wash station, walk-in cooler, tool library and a tractor with implements you book through a simple online calendar.