WORKPLACE AGRICULTURE& EMPLOYMENT LAW
“ Here in the foothills , there ’ s not enough fresh fruits and vegetables , and I think I can make a difference with that . … The Sierra Harvest classes get right to the point , because it ’ s local , so they ’ re showing you which markets will take your inventory , which wholesalers you can talk to about buying your harvest , and which California regulations will matter for what you ’ re farming . Without them , I would have run into so many roadblocks .”
JACKIE CHENG Aspiring farmer , Yuba County rookie farmers discover : While the profession offers a lot of freedom and connection with the outdoors , it ’ s a demanding business endeavor on multiple fronts . Each crop has to be treated as its own product , with its own expenses , growing requirements , packaging needs and income projections . Small farmers also have to keep their own financial books , oversee their own payroll and , in some cases , act as their own human resources department . Finally , small farmers in California take time away from tending the land to keep up with regulations around food and worker safety .
“ Farmers have to wear so many different hats ,” Nakahara says . “ One of the most challenging things in starting a small , diversified farm is how very labor-intensive it is . So , right out of the gate , you ’ re going to have high labor costs . … Those of us who end up doing this say , ‘ We ’ re out to make a living , not a killing .’”
Some in Nevada County have even failed at the former . Sierra Harvest was formed in 2013 to try to change that calculus . One of its main offerings is its Farm Biz program , which provides beginning farmers — those with zero to five years of experience — with 15 hours of direct classroom training from veteran growers in their area who volunteer to lend their experience . ( Applicants can pay a fee or apply for a scholarship .) After many hard-earned lessons in agriculture , Nakahara oversees that program .
“ We try to do a lot in these classes , but we don ’ t want to overwhelm them either ,” Nakahara says . “ It ’ s about helping them achieve efficiency and scale as quickly as possible within the perimeters they have .”
Cate and Kevin Keller say that ’ s exactly what they got from Farm Biz . The couple started Father Daughter Farm in 2019 so one parent could always be at home full time to raise their daughter . They began growing microgreens inside a greenhouse on their Grass Valley property , mastering a nutrient-rich product with a distinct flavor profile . Yet , they still needed a game plan to get those greens onto store shelves .
“ We were really trying to come up with a concise business plan ,” Cate says . “ What ’ s our price points going to be ? What is our marketing strategy ? The Sierra Harvest program was fantastic because it showed the experiences that farmers actually have , and it really helped get us to where we needed to be .”
Jackie Cheng , who ’ s starting a small farm in rural Yuba County , got the same boost from Sierra Harvest . Cheng is a
38 comstocksmag . com | February 2022