General information:

• Southside Community Land Trust has compiled a Farm Financing Chart and an Urban Ag. Financing document to provide information about financing resources and options of the different loan programs/types, with eligibility, size of loan, terms, etc.

• The National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service offers a wealth of guidance for beginning farmers on everything from starting a business to marketing to pest management.

• Here in New England, the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) provides support for beginning farmers through workshops, conferences (scholarships are available), tours, networking events, and peer mentoring/apprenticeship opportunities.

• The Northeast Beginning Farmers Project, part of the Cornell University Small Farms Program, is also a great resource, with online tutorials and video footage of interviews with experienced farmers in which they share their advice and production techniques.

Funding sources:

• Whole Foods Market's Local Producer Loan Program (LPLP) donates up to $10 million in low-interest loans to small, local producers.

• The USDA National Agriculture Library's Rural Information Center offers advice on developing business and financial plans and catalogues small farm loan providers.

• The USDA's Farm Service Agency also makes direct and guaranteed farm ownership and operating loans to family-size farmers and ranchers who can't get credit from banks or other lenders.

Growing advice:

• The University of California's Small Farm Program makes PowerPoint presentations about growing niche or specialty crops like mushrooms and fruit available on their website.