Rodale Institute

10/19/2026

🌱 Are you or someone you know interested in starting a career in organic farming?

Applications for Rodale Institute’s 2027 Farmer Training programs are open, but Applications close Friday, October 23, 2026, at 5 PM ET!

Our hands-on programs give aspiring farmers practical experience and the skills to build careers in regenerative organic agriculture.

📍 Kutztown, PA: RIFT and Veteran Farmer Training, including a dedicated paid training pathway for military veterans

📍 Salina, KS: Heartland RIFT with Kansas Wesleyan University, combining regenerative organic farming education with livestock management and integration

Interested or know someone who might be a great fit? Please share! 🌱

Learn more and apply: https://rodaleinstitute.org/education/training-programs/

10/19/2026

Healthy soil is the foundation of a healthier food system, and farmers like Oscar and Michele Chavez are helping build that future from the ground up. 🌱

At Microledon Farm in South Carolina, they’re putting regenerative practices into action while nourishing their community and inspiring the next generation through hands-on agricultural education.

We’re grateful for partnerships that help support farmers doing this important work and expand the reach of regenerative organic agriculture. 💚

Learn more about their story and the impact of this partnership below! 👇

10/15/2026

Join us October 17 at Moon Valley Farm in Woodsboro, MD for a special presentation honoring Moon Valley Farm owner and operator Emma Jagoz, who will receive Rodale Institute’s Organic Stewardship Award. This award recognizes Emma’s dedication to organic agriculture and her commitment to thoughtful stewardship of the land.

The presentation is part of a the Moon Valley Fall Festival, a full day of fall fun from 10 AM – 4 PM. Come meet your farmers while enjoying autumn on the farm – take a tour, shop with local vendors, enjoy delicious food from food trucks, and stock up on fall favorites—including pumpkins and apples galore!

We will present the Organic Stewardship Award at 11:30 AM including a presentation and free Fall refreshments. We hope to see you there!

Bring your family and friends and spend the day celebrating the farm, the farmers, and the flavors of fall.

Register here:

Join us October 17 at Moon Valley Farm in Woodsboro, MD for a special presentation honoring Moon Valley Farm owner and operator Emma Jagoz, who will

10/14/2026

5.7 million acres is more than a number. It represents farms around the world choosing to manage land differently.

Regenerative Organic Certified® builds on the foundation of organic agriculture with a holistic approach centered on soil health, animal welfare, and fairness for farmers and workers.

Led by the Regenerative Organic Alliance, the ROC® framework is helping turn these principles into action across millions of acres around the world.

Every acre is part of something bigger: a food and farming system designed to give back more than it takes. 🌱

10/13/2026

🐝🌱 From the hive to the field, hands-on learning is creating some sweet opportunities at Rodale Institute!

As part of our nine-month Rodale Institute Farmer Training (RIFT) program, students can explore specialized areas of agriculture that deepen their knowledge and help shape their future farm businesses.

One of those opportunities? Beekeeping! 🍯

Throughout the growing season, RIFT students Armand, Dan, Lauren, and Payton have been learning the ins and outs of apiary management, from caring for healthy hives to harvesting honey, while following National Organic Program (NOP) standards.
Beekeeping offers more than a potential source of farm income. Honeybees also play an important role in pollinating crops, supporting biodiversity, and helping improve yields for pollination-dependent crops.

Recently, our students celebrated the sweet reward of their hard work by extracting this season's honey!

🦅 After visiting our main campus earlier this year, the Philadelphia Eagles culinary team recently reached out to purchase five gallons of honey from this year's harvest!

It's a wonderful example of how hands-on agricultural education can create meaningful connections between farmers, food, and the communities they serve.

🍯 Here's to our future farmers and the many ways they're learning to grow a healthier food system

10/13/2026

Healthy soil is the foundation of a resilient farm.

Part 2 of Growing Organic Georgia, our three-part educational video series, explores the relationship between soil health, biodiversity, and resilient agricultural systems.

From improving soil structure and biological activity to incorporating diverse crops, native flowering plants, and pollinator habitat, this video looks at practices farmers can use to support life both above and below the soil surface.

At the center is a simple principle: feed the soil, and the soil will feed the plants.
Through perspectives from Rodale Institute, University of Georgia, and Georgia farms, the series connects these practices to the larger opportunities for organic agriculture across the state.
Growing Organic Georgia was developed in partnership with the ABAC Agricultural Communication Department and funded by the Southeast Transition to Organic Partnership Program (SE TOPP).

▶️ Watch Part 2, and stay tuned for our final video on USDA Organic certification and market opportunities:

An introduction to the relationship between soil health, biodiversi...

10/12/2026

🌱 Happy National Farmer’s Day! 🚜

Today, we celebrate the farmers who nourish our communities, care for our land, and work tirelessly to grow a healthier future for us all.
At Rodale Institute, we’re proud to work alongside farmers every day, providing the research, training, and hands-on support they need to build healthier soil, strengthen their operations, and transition to regenerative organic agriculture.

But farmers cannot transform our food system alone. 💚

This National Farmer’s Day, join us in giving back to those who give us so much. Your support helps put practical tools, proven knowledge, and valuable resources into the hands of more farmers.

🌎 Honor a farmer today by investing in the future of farming. Make a gift: https://rodaleinstitute.org/get-involved/secure-donation/

10/06/2026

What does organic agriculture look like in Georgia, and what can it make possible for farms and communities across the state?

🌱 Introducing Growing Organic Georgia, a new three-part educational video series exploring organic agriculture from the ground up.

In the first video, we look at the role organic agriculture can play in building resilient farming systems, protecting natural resources, strengthening local food systems, and supporting communities across Georgia. You’ll also learn about resources that can help connect consumers with organic farmers and locally produced organic products in the state.

The series brings together perspectives from Rodale Institute, University of Georgia, and Georgia farmers, including MercyMed Farm and Piney Woods Farm.

Growing Organic Georgia was developed in partnership with the ABAC Agricultural Communication Department and funded by the Southeast Transition to Organic Partnership Program (SE TOPP).

▶️ Watch Part 1 and follow along over the next few weeks as we explore soil health and biodiversity, organic certification, and opportunities for Georgia farmers:

An overview of organic agriculture in Georgia. The video discusses ...

10/06/2026

🌱 Apply Today
Applications for the 2027 Rodale Institute Farmer Training Season are now open!
Our hands-on programs equip the next generation of farmers with the skills and knowledge to build careers in regenerative organic agriculture.
🌱 Kutztown, PA: Our RIFT and Veteran Farmer Training programs offer immersive, hands-on experience in organic farming, with a dedicated paid training pathway for military veterans.
🌾 Salina, KS: Our Heartland RIFT Program with Kansas Wesleyan University combines regenerative organic farming education with a focus on livestock management and integration.
📩 Ready to get your hands in the soil? Applications are now open. Learn more and apply:

Learn more about Rodale Institute's Farmer Training Program that helps beginning growers start their regenerative organic career.