Work with a Local Food Hero
Work with a Local Food Hero

Build Your Garden Education Center

An 8-week business development course that takes you from idea to actionable plan

Register Now

Turn Your Agricultural Skills Into a Sustainable Business

You know how to grow food. But turning that knowledge into a business that supports you and serves your community? That’s a different skill set.

The Foundations Course gives you the business development framework to build what we call a Garden Education Center – a multi-revenue operation that combines food production with education, value-added products, and consulting services.

This isn’t theory. It’s a step-by-step process that results in a complete business plan you can execute.

WHAT YOU'LL BUILD

WHAT YOU'LL BUILD

Your Garden Education Center Development Roadmap

Over 8 weeks, you'll develop a comprehensive business plan covering:

Module 1: Foundation

Your story, mission, and value proposition – the “why” that drives everything

Four revenue streams mapped to your strengths and timeline

Strategy for securing land through ownership, lease, or partnership

Visual identity, and voice that makes you memorable

Workshop and class design that generates revenue

Product concepts, regulations, and go-to-market strategy

Phased timeline with realistic milestones

Complete plan ready for partners, funders, or personal execution

What you'll have at the end:

A complete, professional business development document you can use to launch, seek funding, or attract partners.

Register Now

WHAT YOU'LL BUILD

Your Garden Education
Center Development Roadmap

Over 8 weeks, you'll develop a comprehensive business plan covering:

  • Your story, mission, and value proposition - the "why" that drives everything
  • Four revenue streams mapped to your strengths and timeline
  • Strategy for securing land through ownership, lease, or partnership
  • Visual identity, and voice that makes you memorable
  • Workshop and class design that generates revenue
  • Product concepts, regulations, and go-to-market strategy
  • Phased timeline with realistic milestones
  • Complete plan ready for partners, funders, or personal execution

What you'll have at the end:

A complete, professional business development document you can use to launch, seek funding, or attract partners.

WHAT YOU'LL BUILD

Your Garden Education
Center Development Roadmap

Over 8 weeks, you'll develop a comprehensive business plan covering:

Module 1: Foundation
Your story, mission, and value proposition - the "why" that drives everything
Module 3: Land Access
Strategy for securing land through ownership, lease, or partnership
Module 5: Education Programming
Workshop and class design that generates revenue
Module 7: Implementation
Phased timeline with realistic milestones
Module 2: Business Model
Four revenue streams mapped to your strengths and timeline
Module 4: Brand Identity Name
Visual identity, and voice that makes you memorable
Module 6: Value-Added Products
Product concepts, regulations, and go-to-market strategy
Module 8: Final Assembly
Complete plan ready for partners, funders, or personal execution

WHAT YOU'LL HAVE AT THE END:

A complete, professional business development document you can use to launch, seek funding, or attract partners.

Register Now

WHAT YOU'LL BUILD

Your Garden Education
Center Development Roadmap

Over 8 weeks, you'll develop a comprehensive business plan covering:

Module 1: Foundation
Your story, mission, and value proposition - the "why" that drives everything
Module 2: Business Model
Four revenue streams mapped to your strengths and timeline
Module 3: Land Access
Strategy for securing land through ownership, lease, or partnership
Module 4: Brand Identity Name
Visual identity, and voice that makes you memorable
Module 5: Education Programming
Workshop and class design that generates revenue
Module 6: Value-Added Products
Product concepts, regulations, and go-to-market strategy
Module 7: Implementation
Phased timeline with realistic milestones
Module 8: Final Assembly
Complete plan ready for partners, funders, or personal execution
Module 5: Education Programming
Workshop and class design that generates revenue
Module 6: Value-Added Products
Product concepts, regulations, and go-to-market strategy
Module 7: Implementation
Phased timeline with realistic milestones
Module 8: Final Assembly
Complete plan ready for partners, funders, or personal execution

WHAT YOU'LL HAVE AT THE END:

A complete, professional business development document you can use to launch, seek funding, or attract partners.

Register Now

WHO THIS IS FOR

Is This Course Right for You?

This course is for you if:
  • You have agricultural skills (or are developing them) and want to build a business
  • You’re interested in combining food production with education or community impact
  • You want a structured process, not just inspiration
  • You’re willing to do the work between sessions
  • You want peer support and accountability

This course is especially valuable for:

  • You’re looking for get-rich-quick farming advice
  • You’re not willing to commit to weekly sessions and homework
  • You want someone to build your business for you

This course is especially valuable for:

  • Veterans transitioning to agricultural careers
  • Current farmers wanting to add revenue streams
  • Community leaders building food security initiatives
  • Anyone serious about turning agricultural passion into sustainable income
Register Now

WHO THIS IS FOR

Is This Course Right for You?

This course is for you if:
  • You have agricultural skills (or are developing them) and want to build a business
  • You’re interested in combining food production with education or community impact
  • You want a structured process, not just inspiration
  • You’re willing to do the work between sessions
  • You want peer support and accountability

This course is
especially valuable for:

  • Veterans transitioning to agricultural careers
  • Current farmers wanting to add revenue streams
  • Community leaders building food security initiatives
  • Anyone serious about turning agricultural passion into sustainable income
This course is NOT for you if:
  • You’re looking for get-rich-quick farming advice
  • You’re not willing to commit to weekly sessions and homework
  • You want someone to build your business for you

HOW IT WORKS

Course Structure

What you'll need:

  • Reliable internet connection
  • Willingness to participate (camera on encouraged)
  • Time to complete weekly assignments

Before you start: You'll receive a personalized "Current State Assessment" showing where you are on the Garden Education Center development journey. This assessment is generated from your registration responses and helps you see exactly what you're building toward.

Virtual sessions via Zoom

Schedule:

Tuesday sessions (90 minutes):

New content and exercises

Friday sessions (90 minutes + )

Q&A, peer review, troubleshooting

Commitment:

8 weeks, approximately 5-7 hours per week (sessions + homework)

Cohort Size:

Small groups for personalized attention

Register Now

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Developed by Local Food Heroes

The Foundations Course is part of the Local Food Heroes initiative, a program of Tye’s House that trains agricultural leaders who transform communities through regenerative farming, food security, and education.

This curriculum was developed in partnership with FinStead Consulting, a business development firm specializing in community-focused agricultural enterprises. The same team that built this curriculum is available to help you execute your plan when you’re ready

Our approach:

  • Practical, not theoretical
  • Built for people building real businesses
  • Designed so you CAN do it yourself
  • Professional support available when you need it

Our Commitment to You

“This course exists because I’ve seen too many people with agricultural skills struggle to turn them into sustainable businesses. The gap isn’t knowledge about farming – it’s knowledge about business. We built this curriculum to close that gap, step by step, in a way that respects your time and meets you where you are.”

— Eli Slossberg, Program Director

Ready to Build Your Garden Education Center?

Registration takes about 10-15 minutes. The questions help us understand your background and goals so we can provide you with a personalized assessment before the course begins.

What happens after you register:

  1. You’ll receive a confirmation email with program details
  2. We’ll send information about the course over the coming weeks
  3. Before your cohort begins, you’ll receive your personalized Current State Assessment
  4. We’ll notify you when your cohort start date is confirmed

Ready to Build Your Garden Education Center?

Registration takes about 10-15 minutes. The questions help us understand your background and goals so we can provide you with a personalized assessment before the course begins.

What happens after you register:

  1. You’ll receive a confirmation email with program details
  2. We’ll send information about the course over the coming weeks
  3. Before your cohort begins, you’ll receive your personalized Current State Assessment
  4. We’ll notify you when your cohort start date is confirmed

INVESTMENT

Founding Cohort (2026):
No cost - Be part of our inaugural class and help shape the program.

Future sessions: $497

Register for the Foundations Course

Have Questions?

  • We're happy to discuss whether this course is a good fit for your goals.

This material is based upon work supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, through the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under subaward number CNE25-001.

Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.