Learning by doing is an opportunity we believe should be available to all beginning farmers. Through our programming, we plant seeds for stronger networks of mutual care, food sovereignty, and community healing. We are committed to mentorship that cultivates tangible skills in ancestral ecological stewardship. We honor and celebrate land stewards that share this wisdom with our communities across generations. This network is made up of experienced farmers and organizers committed to sharing their knowledge and skills with the next generation through experiential on-the-job training and one-on-one mentorship that is compensated with living-wage stipends.

Following BAFFT, Agroecology Commons provides graduates with opportunities to dive deeper into the visceral experience of farming. By linking graduates with experienced agroecological practitioners, we support beginning farmers as they deepen their work as land stewards through real relationships with place, people, soil, and plants. We currently collaborate with nine different farms to offer paid apprenticeships to graduates of BAFFT. Both apprentices and farm mentors are paid for their time and efforts. These nine farms include Soul Flower Farm, Catalán Family Farm, Raised Roots, Feral Heart Farm, Scott Family Farm, The Goat Wild Collective, Red H Farm, Cultural Roots Nuersry, and Berkeley Basket CSA. Graduates can also partake in seed grant opportunities to design and implement new or existing community efforts that uplift food sovereignty and agroecology.