Beginning Farmer Program – 8-Week Course

Turn Your Garden Into a Profitable Business

The Beginning Farmer Program by THRYV Institute is an 8-week, live online course designed to take you from backyard gardener to confident, income-generating farmer. Whether you have a small plot, a suburban garden, or a few acres — this program gives you the step-by-step system to grow, market, and sell produce for real profit.

This is not a hobby gardening class. This is a structured, results-driven business program taught by experienced farmer-entrepreneurs who have built their own farm businesses from the ground up.

What You'll Learn

Each week, you'll join a live 1-hour session with your instructors, Nadia and Abby, covering everything you need to launch your farming business:

• Week 1 – Course Intro & Student Introductions
  Meet your instructors and fellow students. Learn about their farm start-ups. Homework: Write a paragraph about your dream farm/garden.
• Week 2 – Regenerative Farming Practices
  Discover soil-building techniques that produce nutrient-dense, market-ready crops. Homework: Identify regenerative practices for your dream farm.
• Week 3 – Farm Planning: Holistic Management & SMART Goals
  Map out your farm vision with proven planning frameworks. Homework: Complete your SMART goals worksheet.
• Week 4 – Market Gardening Business 101
  Understand enterprise budgets, pricing, and what sells. Homework: Build a 1-crop enterprise budget and create your price list.
• Week 5 – Simple Business Plans, Part I & Finding a Mentor
  Start building your business narrative and connect with mentorship resources. Homework: Draft your business narrative using your SMART goals and dream farm paragraph.
• Week 6 – Ecosystem Services & How to Market Farm/Garden Products
  Learn how to position and sell your produce in today's market. Homework: Write your marketing plan and explore emerging market ideas.
• Week 7 – Business Plan Review, Part II
  Refine and complete your full business plan. Homework: Integrate your narrative, marketing plan, and financials.
• Week 8 – Business Plan Presentations & Course Wrap-Up
  Present your completed business plan and celebrate your progress with the cohort.

Who This Is For

This program is built for adults who are ready to:

• Start a profitable side business from their land or garden
• Become more self-sufficient and food-secure
• Learn a proven system — not just tips and tricks
• Build real income from sustainable farming

Your Instructors

Nadia and Abby are farmer-entrepreneurs who have built their own farm businesses and are passionate about helping beginners do the same. Their hands-on, practical approach means you'll leave every session with actionable steps — not just theory.

Program Details

• 📅 Format: 8 weekly live sessions (1 hour each)
• 🕐 Schedule: Tuesdays, 1–2pm CST
• 💻 Delivery: Online (live + recorded)
• 📋 Includes: Weekly homework assignments, worksheets, and a completed business plan by graduation
• 📣 Next cohort start date: To be announced — join the waitlist to be first to know

Ready to Start?

Choose your enrollment option below. Reserve your spot with a deposit to lock in your place, or join the free waitlist to be notified when the next cohort opens.

Questions? Email us at registration@thryv.institute