Help Us Raise $100,000 to Support Regenerative Organic Farming In America

Learn more how you can make a lasting impact!

Farmer Training

In the United States, organic sales have topped nearly $70 billion annually and continue to grow. Yet less than 1% of U.S. cropland is certified organic. We have a need for more organic farmers, from beginners to seasoned professionals. Today, there are 6x as many farmers over 65 as under 35. The time is now to invest in the future of organic agriculture. That’s why Rodale Institute is helping farmers transition to organic and training the next generation of organic leaders.

Growing Careers, Growing Food

Every year, Rodale Institute welcomes a select group of students to their headquarters in Pennsylvania to train for careers in organic agriculture. Farmer trainees spend nine months growing their farming skills both in the classroom and in the fields.

Rodale Institute Farmer Training (RIFT) and Veteran Farmer Training

These highly immersive, full-time programs allow anyone to begin a career in organic crop and vegetable production. Students learn financial skills, soil science, digital marketing and botany, coupled with hands-in-the-soil applications, learning on a world-renowned experimental farm. Students work alongside Rodale Institute farmers to grow organic produce for farm shares and farmers’ markets, learning how to process, distribute

Meet Gigi Copeland – 2024 Graduate of the RIFT Program

Q: What brought you to Rodale Institute?

A: In November 2022 I saw an advert on Facebook for the Rodale Institute Farmer Training program and thought at the time, “If I didn’t need to worry about money, I would do this in a heartbeat.” I had been trying to farm on a small scale on my own and immediately understood how RIFT could help me be successful. Two weeks later, I found myself out of a job and I applied for the program.

Q: What areas within agriculture are you most interested in?

A: I am working towards doing mostly perennials – herbs, berries, fruit trees, as well as cut flowers and natural dye plants for fiber arts. In the future, I will expand to agroforestry as I have three acres of woods to work with on the farm.

Q: What are you hoping to do after graduating from the RIFT program?

A: I am a co-owner of Boo Cat Farm, LLC and have 6.5 acres in the Oley Valley (PA). The plan is to continue to expand on my property.

Ongoing Research

For more than 77 years, Rodale Institute has been putting science behind the best practices in organic agriculture proving that healthy soil=healthy food=healthy people. With over 33 active research projects across 12 sites, Rodale Institute has been the leading global voice in developing solutions for the regenerative organic agriculture movement. Rodale Institute’s research focus areas include developing organic solutions to pests, disease and weeds, mitigating and adapting to climate change, and growing nutrient dense foods.

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Image and Video source: Rodale Institute.

Natural Grocers is proud to be partnering with Rodale Institute to support the Rodale Institute Farmer Training (RIFT) program and the regenerative organic movement.

Discover three simple ways you can help make a lasting impact!

*Pledge must be made between 4/1/2025 and 4/30/2025 at naturalgrocers.com/ladybuglove to qualify for matching donation. Following the pledge period, Vitamin Cottage Natural Food Markets, inc. will make a single matching donation of up to $25,000 in support of the Rodale Institute fundraiser.