ROOT TO RISE FARM BUSINESS ACCELERATOR
THE APPLICATION WINDOW IS NOW CLOSED. PLEASE CHECK BACK NEXT YEAR!

PLAN FOR THE 2025 GROWING SEASON
Are you a producer in operation for at least 2 years who would like to feel confident in your plan for the 2025 growing season? Winter is the perfect time to take a step back, re-evaluate business decisions, and organize your thoughts (and books!). At Business Impact NW, we are offering a way to use the “off-season” to create a clearer vision and a more strategic year ahead. One of the most effective ways to do that is to surround yourself with a team of peers and professionals who can soundboard, guide, and offer ideas and resources.
This kind of facilitated space is exactly what you’ll receive in our Root to Rise Farm Business Accelerator. You'll be paired up with your own business coach, farm mentors, live and on-demand trainings, and professional bookkeeping support. These services will help to ground and organize your strategic plan for the coming season. In addition, the program will be delivered in a cohort model to encourage sharing of ideas and help you grow your network of like-minded growers.
To inquire about additional language support needs/options please email fbrc@businessimpactnw.org or call 206-324-4330 x 145
WHAT YOU'LL GET

This program runs January - March 2025, with a brief orientation in December. Everything is conducted virtually. If you’re ready to get informed answers to your questions, share experiences, and brainstorm solutions in a supportive environment of peers and providers, apply before November 20th, 2024! This program is FREE, but spaces are limited.
- 1:1 monthly business coaching sessions.*
- Monthly Farm Mentor presentations*
- 1:1 "Ask Anything" sessions with farm mentors
- Guided access to on-demand courses and resources matching your business needs
- Marketing plan support
- Professional bookkeeping support
- A chance to connect with other growers across the PNW
*Indicates required attendance for program participation. All other services are customized and self-guided based on the goals identified with your business coach.
Farm Mentors
Chandler Briggs
Hayshaker Farm
Hayshaker Farm uses the power of draft horses, and some people, to harvest 20 acres of vegetables, fruits and herbs in the Walla Walla Valley. It is a values-driven farm that seeks to harvest high-quality, nutrient-rich and diverse produce available year-round.
Lili Tova
Flying Coyote Farm
Flying Coyote is a 37-acre farm in Sandy, Oregon co-owned by Lili Tova and Dan Sullivan. Together with their team, they grow over 100 different varieties of Certified Organic fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers. They also raise pastured poultry and pigs, and are dedicated to farming in a way that focuses on soil, animal, and crop health.
Meghan Mix
Hopscotch Farm
Hopscotch is a 1/2 acre “Farm to Jar” operation that grows heirloom produce and crafts farmstead pickles and jam for farmers market and local groceries on the Olympic Peninsula in WA. Owner/operator Meghan Mix uses human-scale and sustainable production methods to create a regenerative growing system that focuses on soil health, ecological health, and nutrient-dense produce. Her small batch, value-added products are hand packed and made with love.
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FAQS
- Identifying new growth opportunities
- Financial forecasting and scenario planning
- Developing new marketing strategies
- Discovering additional learning opportunities
- Connecting to community resources
- Accessing general legal resources through Farm Commons
- Serving as a no-judgment zone to bounce ideas off of
- Food Ecommerce Class
- Farmer Finance Series
- Getting Started with Shipping Your Value-Add Products
- Farm Bookkeeping Basics: Planting Solid Roots for Growth
- Farm Bookkeeping Deeper Dive: Entering Online or Market Sales
- Farm Payroll Essentials
- …and more, depending on your goals
Topics included but not limited to:
- Regulatory processes
- Marketing
- Managing multiple sales channels
- Value-add production
- Employment
This is an open space to chat peer-to-peer about ANYTHING in your farming operation. Some example questions may be:
- What have you found to be the most effective way to manage your CSA deliveries?
- What practices do you have to keep you organized financially?
- Have you received any grants or loans? How did that process go for you?
- Any tips for delegating more efficiently so I’m not spending my entire day overseeing employees?
- What are your suggestions for building cold storage given my budget and space restrictions?
- Where are you finding most of your employees? What system are you using for payroll?
- How did you land your first wholesale accounts? What terms do you think are most important when agreeing to a contract?
In the Root to Rise Farm Business Accelerator, there is very little pre-set curriculum. Instead, the focus is on providing individualized journeys through the 3 months of the program. Aside from the monthly farm mentor presentations, the program is designed to be more in a “choose-your-own-adventure” style. Participants will be guided through self-directed training opportunities and resources based on their business’s unique goals.
- Mandatory Attendance: Estimated 2.5 hours per month (January – March)
- Orientation on December 12th, 1:00pm – 2:00pm
- 1:1 monthly business coaching (1 hour minimum per month)
- Monthly Farm Mentor presentations (1.5 hours per month)
- Additional Services: Estimated 4-7 hours over program length
- 1:1 sessions with farm mentors (estimated .5 hr/month)
- Professional bookkeeping/accounting support (1 hr/month)
- Guided access to on-demand courses and resources matching your business needs (variable)