GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass — Berkshire Agricultural Ventures' (BAV) announces a $10,000 grant to Berkshire-based nonprofit, Greenagers. 

 

The grant will both support Greenagers' second year of apprenticeships ($2,800) at their farm at April Hill Conservation and Conservation Center as well as offset the cost of a pilot year of Greenagers Helping Farm Hands project ($7,200). 

 

"We are happy to be supporting Greenagers training the next generation of farmers through their apprenticeship at April Hil. We also see a big win/win getting young adults working for Greenagers exposed to a variety of farms through the Helping Hands Program, all while giving the farmers the extra hands needed for big projects," Dan Carr, outreach and technical assistance coordinator at BAV said.

 

Specifically, this grant will help Greenagers apprentices learn how to re-engage the agricultural land at April Hill Farm from pasture and hay production to a diversified farm that will include tree nuts, tree and vine fruits, vegetables, beef, lamb, duck eggs, chicken eggs, conservation nursery stock, pollinator habitat, and honey.

 

Starting April 1, the Helping Farm Hands project grant would offset the cost of helping with the need for labor on local farms and allow youth crews a diversity of farming experiences. For more information on this program visit https://greenagers.org/april-hill-farm/.

 

"We need more farms and we need more farmers and we need more educated consumers.  Helping Hands, by connecting youth with local farms, supports the labor needs of farms--elevating profitability and puts young people on farms.  If out of twenty youth that participates, one becomes a farmer and nineteen know more about their agricultural landscape and the power of their food choices, we will be making great strides toward a more resilient and just food system," Will Conklin, executive director of Greenagers said. 

 

Greenagers provides paid employment programs, internships, and apprenticeships and engages teens and young adults in  work in environmental conservation, sustainable farming, and natural resource management.

 

BAV supports farm and food business development and viability by offering access to technical assistance and financing including low-interest loans, grants, and other professional resources.