Applications Sought for Farmer/Manage
of Lightstone Foundation Demonstration Farm
The Lightstone Foundation, a West Virginia non-profit educational
organization, is seeking a farmer/manager to develop and operate a
Demonstration Farm on the Foundation's 563 acre farm that will serve as a
regional education and training center for sustainable family farming.
The Demonstration Farm project represents a unique opportunity for
individuals experienced in the design and implementation of sustainable
whole farm systems. The farm will serve as an educational and
demonstration resource for the surrounding community, Potomac
Highlands area, and for Lightstone Foundation's programs. The
Demonstration Farm is a joint program of the Lightstone Foundation and
its affiliated non-profit organization, the Lightstone Community
Development Corporation.
This is an opportunity to develop and demonstrate sound land stewardship
practices consistent with those that would qualify the land for certification
as organic, as well as to develop income-producing activities.The
Lightstone Foundation was incorporated in Pendleton County, West
Virginia in 1986 and serves as a regional training and educational center
for practicing and supporting sustainable family farming, natural resource
management, and rural community development. Lightstone's farm is
located at the Potomac Headwaters in Moyers, Pendleton County, West
Virginia.
The Foundation's programs focus on the five county Potomac Highlands
region of West Virginia, including the counties of Pendleton, Grant,
Hampshire, Hardy, and Mineral. Lightstone currently operates the Future
Stewards Program for youth, the Regional Farmer's Market Project, the
Healthy Communities Network Program, and the Lightstone Community
Development Corporation (LCDC) - which operates a sustainable
enterprise micro-loan fund and the Demonstration Farm.
The Foundation and the Lightstone Community Development Corporation
seek an interested person(s) through this solicitation that will develop a
Demonstration Farm based on principles of whole farm systems and
sustainable agriculture, defined by WVU Extension Services as "a site-
specific agriculture system that is ecologically sound, economically, viable
and socially acceptable for present and future generations", and meeting the
following criteria:
Consistent with pending USDA organic certification standards,
standards of the Mountain State Organic Growers & Buyers
Association (MSOGBA), and other product-specific standards
approved by the Demonstration Farm. These standards include
soil building practices and program, rotation of crops, cover
cropping and green manuring, composting, use of off-farm
materials, and field records. A complete copy of the
certification standards can be obtained from the USDA, The
Foundation or from Vivian Purdy, Certification Coordinator,
MSOGBA, 145 Back Valley Rd, Sweet Springs, WV.
Includes methods for maintaining balanced nutrient cycles on
the farm, and ways to minimize off-farm inputs, with the
possible exception of how best to use off-farm nutrients like
those generated by the region's poultry industry, as a
demonstration of nutrient management practices consistent
with those that would qualify the land for certification as
organic.
Demonstrates diversified farming practices, including but
not limited to the keeping of animals, the growing of
forage/grain, vegetables/herbs, other crops, and pasture
management.
Demonstrates sustainable, innovative ways which can be
adopted on family farms to add value to farm products and
to market products directly to consumers, including but
not limited to Community Supported Agriculture, local
farmer's markets, and on-farm marketing.
The Demonstration Farm will be an integral program of the Lightstone
Foundation and the Lightstone Community Development Corporation and
their subsidiary programs as stewards of a unique farmland and in the
fulfillment of their mission as educational and demonstration resources for
the surrounding community and region.
The farmer will be responsible for developing and implementing a farm
plan approved by the Demonstration Farm Committee and in consultation
with the Lightstone Foundation Land & Program Committee. The farm
plan will cover personnel needs; strategies for planting; growing and uses
of harvested crops; management of nutrients; water quality; soil, crop, and
animal health. The farm plan should include balanced and diversified
agriculture production including vegetables, fruits, herbs, forage, crops,
grains, animals, and animal-derived products that can be sold, traded
and/or bartered to produce income for the Demonstration Farm and the
farmer. It will be a goal of the farm plan to have as many of these
products consumed on or nearby the land and the wastes recycled back on
the farm. The farm plan should involve and strengthen the local rural
community by involving neighbors through shared activities. Educational
and demonstration aspects of the farm will be mutually coordinated with
and supported by the Lightstone Foundation and its other programs, and
the Foundation will provide additional financial support through partial
purchase of Demonstration Farm products and services. The farmer will be
an employee of Lightstone Community Development Corporation (LCDC)
and will be supervised by a committee of LCDC consisting of the
farmer/manager, Board members of LCDC, and members of the local
community.
The Demonstration Farm will maintain its own bookkeeping, payroll, and
financial accounts, and maintain detailed records, including crop yields,
inputs, animals raised, etc. These records will be documented and available
to anyone interested in information about the Farm projects. The farmer
will submit periodic accounting of expenditures and income to the
Demonstration Farm Committee. Annually, the farmer will submit a
report of progress for a peer review meeting by other farmers, the
Demonstration Committee and Lightstone Foundation in order to inform
the community about the activities of the Demonstration Farm, to provide
feedback to the farmer, and to keep the Demonstration Farm informed of
current concerns in the local farming community.
The Lightstone Foundation has the following farmland resources: 50 acres
in hay meadow, 100 acres in pasture, 100 acres in woodland, numerous
springs and running streams, and outbuildings. In addition, $45,000 in
funds will be available for the farmer's salary ($10- $15,000/yr for 2
years), equipment ($10-$15,000 total), start-up costs ($5-$10,000 total),
and other approved Farm Plan needs. The farmer may also apply for up to
a $10,000 capital loan or loan guarantee from the Lightstone Community
Development Corporation in accordance with its lending practices to
provide additional income-producing opportunities for the farmer
consistent with the farm plan.
Opportunities for crop/livestock sharing will be welcome for consideration
in the farm plan. The farmer is encouraged to live on the farm and room
will be made available in the farmhouse for the farmer's residence/office.
Interested persons are invited to apply to
The Demonstration Farm, Lightstone Foundation, HC 63, Box 73, Moyers,
WV 26813-9502.
Fax: 304-249-5310.
Please e-mail, fax or mail a resume describing farming experience and
skills by April 15, 1996.
E-mail address: lightstone@igc.apc.org
Finalists will be invited to visit Lightstone to meet with the Demonstration
Farm Committee and visit the farm. Finalists will be asked to develop a
draft Farm Plan which will be included in the final selection decision.
Anticipated starting date is June 1, 1996. Within two weeks of being hired,
the farmer will submit to the Demonstration Farm Committee a plan for
approval detailing farming and marketing methods, and a two year business
plan.