Earth friendly and truly sustainable farming practices are being called for and are being implemented throughout North American society. We see environmental and more regionally-focused farming movements becoming the dominant force in agriculture.

Manitoba Farm Mentorship aims to reverse the depopulation trend of our rural areas by encouraging farmers to diversify, layer, and intensify their farms, and to seek locally-based networks and value-chains. We also hope to increase urban farming activities and inspire a shift in how and where we source our food in the city.

We facilitate full-time and part-time internships on mentor farms. If you are looking to share resources or get advice, we can direct you to peer farmers through organizations and programs such as the Harvest Moon Society and Succeeding Generations. 

Our mentorship program focuses on the following:

Increasing the number of organic farmers in Manitoba, and the amount of locally grown organic food being consumed here in order to mitigate climate change, weather the energy crisis, and increase the health of local residents. Increasing the number of smaller scale viable family farms with a diversity of produce and revitalizing rural Manitoba because of the decrease in farm populations, migration out of rural areas, and increased need for off-farm income as a result of the decades-long farm crisis. Attracting youth to farming. The average age of farmers in Manitoba is 51 years old and less than 6% of our population is involved in farming. Training new (often urban-raised) farmers who can meet rising demand. The number of family farms on the prairies has decreased drastically in recent decades, and farm-raised youth often seek off-farm employment. Increasing demand for organic/natural/local food provides new opportunities for careers in farming. There has been a recent surge of urban interest in growing food, but until now a lack of resources and training for aspiring farmers without a farm background.
Creating demand and new markets for local organic/sustainable producers. An increase in farmers requires a corresponding increase in demand for farm products. Current market trends continue to indicate soaring interest in local, organic, and natural foods. Increasing urban farming. We need to grow more food locally for increasing numbers of city-dwellers. Cities provide beneficial microclimates suited to intensive small scale growing, and interest in urban farming activities continues to grow.

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