LEWES, Del. — Calling all small Delmarva farmers interested in learning more about sustainable practices and focused on growing for the local market. Apply now for the 2021 Historic LewesFarmers Market (HLFM) scholarship program! Completed applications are due no later than Monday, December 14, 2020.
Due to Covid-19, 2021 sustainable farming conferences are virtual, making them very accessible and not as expensive as non-virtual events held in previous years. The HLFM is awarding a number of scholarships for the 2021 conferences. Up to $150 in scholarship money with proof of registration (one scholarship per farm) will be awarded.
The challenges of the pandemic to the food chain make these conferences even more important this year in a time when the farming community is exploring how to make regional food systems more resilient. Conferences include these in the mid-Atlantic: the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) Annual Farming for the Future Conference, January 19-February 5, 2021 (www.pasafarming.org); Future Harvest CASA Conference, January 14-16, 2021 (www.futureharvestcasa.org); and the Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Conference, February 8-11, 2021 (mafvc.org). These conferences draw farmers and others in the farming community interested in education about sustainable agriculture practices from a broad section of the East Coast, mid-Atlantic and The South with similar growing conditions to the Delmarva.
In 2016, the Historic Lewes Farmers Market established an emerging women farmers’ scholarship fund in memory of Debra Schaefer who died that year. It was her family’s wish that this scholarship be established in loving memory of Debra, who was a sustainable farmer in Frankford, Delaware. On the application, please let us know if you are applying for one of the Debra Schaefer Scholarships.
To be eligible for the scholarships, the Delmarva farmer must:
1)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Currently be developing a sustainable farming enterprise, or currently farming, on the Delmarva.
2)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Currently operate a small farm (low sales) as defined by the ERS (Economic Research Service) for the United States Department of Agriculture (less than $350,000 gross in agricultural sales), on the Delmarva, or be able to demonstrate financial need to attend this conference. (Only one applicant per farm, please.)
3)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Currently be a farmer/grower who sells what they grow, raise or produce on their own farm. A farmer/grower may be a sole proprietorship, a partnership, or a corporation and shall include family members and employees who assist in the production and/or sales/marketing of the farm products.
4)        Commit to sharing their experiences at a virtual HLFM farmer’s workshop to be held in the spring.
To receive an application and more information about the scholarships, please call (302) 644-1436 or email info@historiclewesfarmersmarket.org
Completed applications are due no later than Friday, December 14, 2020. All scholarship applicants will be notified of awards by January 8, 2021.
–Historic Lewes Farmers Market