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Landowners, businesses, school districts, and municipalities across the Golden State partner with CLBL to reach their workforce goals and create educational opportunities for tomorrow’s leaders. Find what’s happening in your area.
ABOUT US
For more than 30 years, the Center for Land-Based Learning has helped aspiring farmers and environmental stewards tap into careers, resources, and possibilities within California’s rich working lands.
1993
Farming, Agriculture, and Resource Management for Sustainability (FARMS) is established as a stand-alone high-school education program.
2020
CLBL breaks ground on a new 30-acre headquarters at The Maples Farm in Woodland, California, providing field and classroom learning space for programs and the community.
2001
The Center for Land-Based Learning becomes a formal nonprofit organization and launches a second initiative, the Student and Landowner Education and Watershed Stewardship Program (SLEWS).
2021
The Mobile Farmers Market Truck hits the road in West Sacramento, California, expanding the Community Food Program.
Our Programs
From neighborhood food access to climate research, prospects for discovery and involvement abound. Whether you’re a high-school teacher, a community volunteer, curious about a career in farming, or a lover of local food, we invite you to explore our offerings.
Expanding opportunities for California’s youth through hands-on experiences and encounters.
Internships, apprenticeships, training and connections that equip tomorrow’s leaders.
Programs and support to overcome barriers that limit access to land, food, and meaningful careers.
Innovative research, replicable best practices and scalable climate solutions with generational impact.
Join Us
New ideas are always germinating at CLBL, and there’s no better way to get involved than to show up and dig in. Throughout the year you can connect with us by attending events, registering for a program, volunteering, shopping at the Mobile Farmers Market Truck, and more!
We are excited to launch a new series of courses designed for beginning farmers. Farm Business Planning is a 12-week course that will help you build a solid foundation for your new business or guide you through a business plan refresh for an existing enterprise. Classes will be held on Mondays from February 10 – April 28, 2025, with a combination of in-person classes at our HQ in Woodland and online learning. Learn more.
Calling all aspiring agriculturalists and anyone who has ever thought, “Maybe I should be a farmer.” Our Explorer Course is designed to orient the farm-curious to the realities of cultivation and entrepreneurship. The 7-week crash course will help you decide whether starting an agricultural business is realistic for you and how to take practical next steps. Down-and-dirty farming experience and a field trip are included. Thursdays starting April 3. Learn more.
This comprehensive four-week program is designed for new tractor operators and those seeking a refresher on safe and effective tractor operation. Throughout the course, participants will engage in practical, real-world experiences that enhance their learning and confidence including setting up the tractor and attaching implements and practical exercises to ensure that students can safely and effectively prepare equipment for use. Learn more.
Testimonial
The Urban Ag Internship has been transformative, teaching me practical skills while fostering a sense of community with the people I work with. I’m grateful for the support and opportunities it has provided as I’m able to learn day by day and meet great people along the way.
Sending Enrique, one of our most respected employees, through the Apprenticeship Program was one of the best decisions for our farm. Enrique not only learned new techniques and grew his personal network that he still uses today, more importantly, he built up his confidence in himself. He learned how to question the status quo and find ways to make influential changes on our farm. Through his experience in the Apprenticeship Program, he has become an invaluable manager on our farm managing our shop. This program doesn’t just train future farmers, it builds stronger, more innovative agricultural leaders.
The Explorer Course did not shy away from sharing the risks, challenges, and hardships that small farmers face, and it was designed to really make us think about our values and goals and where we wanted to take our farm journey, whether that was moving on to start a farm business, work on a farm, or be involved with farming in some other way. Every risk, every challenge, every opportunity that we discussed in class really sparked my interest and I came to realize that, yes, that is what I want for my life, and ultimately it led me to continue my farm journey with CLBL.