farmer-to-farmer

learning programs

We’ve found one of the most effective ways to advance our local food system is to bring farmers together to learn from one another. So much of the knowledge we need to is already right here in our communities.

What this work looks like

Livestock Producer solutions

Raising livestock using regenerative systems that consider the health of the earth is important work for our food system, reducing climate impacts, and caring for our natural world. This work isn’t easy. Challenges with access to processing facilities, cost of production, and more make it a difficult way to make a livelihood.
Our work gathers livestock producers to address these challenges in community, bringing about new collaborations and creative solutions to these limitations.
Carbon Farming Cohorts

Carbon Farming and Forestry Cohorts are peer-to-peer learning experiences for small groups of land stewards in Northwest Lower Michigan that focus on land-management practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and sequester and store carbon.
These collaborative working groups offer a unique way to learn and hold one another accountable to following through.
We are not currently offering an active cohort due to a change in available funding.
Fostering Collaboration

Farmers often need to tackle an ever-growing list of tasks from production to sales to business management. And that’s when everything is going smoothly. Add in damaging weather events, unexpected crop loss, or any other host of things that can go awry and the list can feel daunting.
Collaboration is an effective way to decrease each individual farm’s workload and foster improved results for everyone.
Crosshatch gathers farmers around common issues to facilitate connections and improve regional cooperation.