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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 what we have to offer.
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.
Throughout the year you can connect with us by attending events, taking a class, volunteering, shopping at the Mobile Farmers Market Truck, and more!
The Student and Landowner Education and Watershed Stewardship (SLEWS) Program encourages high school students to dig into habitat restoration through real projects on farms, ranches and open spaces.
Mentors play a key role in the SLEWS program by ensuring project quality, making personal connections with students, and co-facilitating field days that maintain SLEWS Program culture. Mentors are required to commit to one project (three non-consecutive field days) and be present for the duration of the field day. No experience needed!
This monthly event is a fun way to connect and learn. Each month, we focus on a different topic, highlighting some of the difference-makers in our region. Enjoy hot wood-fired pizzas, cold drinks, and great conversation.
Join us this month to learn about regenerative farming practices like planting hedgerows and adding cover crops to your rotation to support soil health and farm biodiversity. We know these methods are beneficial, but they do come at a financial cost. Fortunately, funding is available from USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)!
Wednesday, September 16
4:30-7:30 p.m. at our HQ in Woodland
Welding is an essential skill if you want to be able to build or repair your own farm tools. Whether you’re a farmer who wants to practice the basics of welding, brush up on your skills, or learn to weld for home or business, we are proud to make this community resource available.
You’ll get experience using an arc welder and an oxy-acetylene torch.
Small class size allows ample opportunity for personalized learning and instruction.
Tuesdays and Thursdays, October 6-29
5-7 p.m.
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.