The Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture (VIDA), in collaboration with the White River Natural Resources Conservation District (NRCD), the Bennington County Conservation District and the Virgin Islands Women in Agriculture Association, is excited to announce the Farm Force Boot Camp – an immersive week-long training aimed at equipping participants with sustainable agriculture and conservation skills.
The department is proud to have played an integral role in receiving federal funding for the Working Lands Climate Corps, which offers hands-on training in regenerative agriculture, agroforestry, soil health, water management, grazing systems and conservation planning as workforce development in climate-smart farming. The Department of Agriculture’s main goal for Climate Corps and the Farm Force Boot Camp is to develop educational resources, recruit participants, connect producers to technical and financial resources, and support workforce development opportunities.
The Farm Force Boot Camp, the White River Natural Resources Conservation District is currently hosting 30 new corps members and 20 conservation professionals from Vermont and the U.S. Virgin Islands at Vermont State University’s Randolph campus. This year, six VIDA staff members are attending the boot camp.
Participants are touring local farms and attending workshops led by experts such as master composter Cat Buxton and invasive species specialist Mike Bald. They are also engaging in hands-on learning, covering topics that include:
- Engineering basics for community-scale agriculture projects
- Soil health and water quality management
- Grazing systems and agroforestry design
- Conservation Evaluation and Monitoring Activities (CEMAs)
- Comprehensive conservation planning
USDA’s AgLearn platform, an agriculture-based online professional development website, will provide additional online support.
“This joint initiative allows us to provide the technical skills needed to support our local agriculture industry while empowering corps members with industry certification in conservation. They will then be able to help USVI farmers access USDA NRCS funding resources to enhance their production capacity,” said Diana Collingwood, executive director of the Virgin Islands Women in Agriculture Association.
Farm Force Boot Camp is part of a year-long Conservation Career Workforce Development Program. This Vermont-based “mini boot camp” is the first of two intensive in-person training sessions. The second will be held in the Virgin Islands in February 2025. The Corps Network, through AmeriCorps and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), funds both events and the yearlong program.
“We’re thrilled to offer participants the chance to develop crucial skills for a career in conservation agriculture,” said NRCD District Manager Jennifer Bryne. “By the end of the program, participants will have the opportunity to become certified conservation planners, a highly valuable credential recognized nationwide.”
Project partners include:
- White River NRCD and Bennington County NRCD
- Virgin Islands Women in Agriculture Association Inc. and We Grow Food Inc.
- U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture
- USDA-NRCS Vermont and Caribbean Area
- Cedar Circle Farm and Education Center, Vt.
- Regeneration Corps and USVI Economic Development Authority
- VT Relief Collective
- Bennington College, VT Technical College and UVI School of Agriculture Extension Service
The Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture is the local authority in agriculture in the Government of the Virgin Islands. It aims to develop, support and promote an economically lucrative agricultural industry in the U.S. Virgin Islands while supporting farmers, consumers and the environment.
The Corps Network’s material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, under agreement number NR243A750018C001. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or The Corps Network. In addition, any reference to specific brands or types of products or services does not constitute or imply an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture or The Corps Network for those products or services. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.
