The RGTP invites anyone who feels passionate about growing food in ways that regenerate the land and support local wellbeing. This program is designed as a comprehensive, intensive introduction, so while some trainees may have flight time with gardening, agriculture, land stewardship, or food systems study, no prior experience in any area of food production is required. 

We look forward to recruiting diverse experiences in the 2026 program. Some folks who may find particular benefit in taking the RGTP include: 

• Home and community gardeners seeking deeper knowledge and the tools to become more self-sufficient in growing food for their families and neighbors.
• Active and aspiring farmers and market gardeners who are working at a small scale and seeking experience with ecologically-minded growing methods and climate-smart designs, including agroforestry.
  • PLEASE NOTE: unlike traditional farmer incubator programs, this program does not cover topics like managing a farm business, hosting a CSA, or producing food for markets. When titling the program, we avoided calling it a “Regenerative Farmer” training for this reason. “Grower” appeals to anyone interested in producing food at a low-tech, human scale with or without agricultural aspirations. We will keep our focus to the techniques for nurturing dynamic small-scale crop systems that support ecological health.
• Land caretakers and advocates for healthy ecosystems. Often we divide agriculture and ecological restoration into separate realms, but through the RGTP and other programs at the Horn Farm Center, we are intentionally blurring that separation. People have tended land for nutrient-rich food while maintaining and enhancing ecological vitality for centuries. In taking this program, folks who focus on protecting and restoring critical wild ecosystems will find interesting parallels and new lenses for viewing land stewardship.
• Students in the fields of agriculture, horticulture, environmental science, and environmental studies looking for hands-on experiences and networking opportunities to supplement classroom learning.
• Community changemakers pursuing the tools and knowledge to work toward food independence and sovereignty in their neighborhoods.

Overall, whether or not you identify with any of the groups above, this program is a great fit for anyone seeking deeper relationship with the land and closer connection to the origins of our food.

Every employer is different in terms of their flexibility and willingness to accommodate, but many past Horn Farm trainees have participated successfully while maintaining a full-time job.

Solutions have included flexing or reducing hours, using paid days off, and/or communicating the merits of program participation to an employer. Some have even taken the skills they develop to the workplace. For those currently employed in environmental or agricultural organizations, employers may be willing to consider participation in a program as employee development.

Of course, we acknowledge that employer accommodation for a commitment like this is not universal. We are happy to provide employers with enrollment verification and program credentials if necessary.

With a heavy emphasis on active field experience, the RGTP is a physically demanding program. We ask that trainees be able to perform natural and repetitive movements common in non-mechanical agriculture: bending, kneeling, digging, etc. Trainees should be prepared to carry loads of up to 30lbs and use manual tools like hoes, shovels, rakes, and broadforks. Safety and ergonomics in tool use will be covered. All physical activities will take place in an exposed outdoor environment from spring to fall, rain or shine, so trainees should be prepared to work and learn in the elements. 

If physical limitations are a concern, please reach out to us at education@hornfarmcenter.org so we can discuss if and how we can accommodate.

Tuition, guest instructor fees, field trip reservations, plants, and any needed supplies are all covered under the program cost. Trainees also benefit from a weekly stipend of fresh produce grown in the program. Everyone will receive their own CSA (crop share) of vegetables and herbs each week from June through October.

Broken down, the standard program cost comes out to about $43 per session for 33 weeks of classroom and field education at a 1:4 instructor-to-student ratio.

Payment begins when you submit a nonrefundable $300 deposit to enroll in the program. You will receive a link to make this payment and confirm enrollment after completing an informal get-to-know-you meeting with the instructors. We also accept cash or checks if preferred.

After enrolling, there are two options for payment:

1. Payment in full.
2. Monthly payments through our recommended payment plan, which consists of six installments of about $427 each if paying the standard program cost ($2860). Payments are due in the middle of April, May, June, July, August, and September. We also offer customized payment plans if requested, as long as all payments are received by the conclusion of the program on October 16th.

A link to submit these payments will be shared with participants after their enrollment.

Any checks should be made payable to “Horn Farm Center Training Programs” while listing relevant details (RGTP deposit, first installment, etc.) in the memo.

Yes. Thanks to generous support from the NiSource Charitable Foundation, scholarship funds are available for participants who may benefit from a reduced program cost. To be considered for a scholarship, please complete additional questions under the “Scholarship Eligibility” section of the program Interest Form. We will review your responses anonymously.

Funds will be distributed based on justification of need, existing barriers, and investment in the program. Note that, per the Horn Farm Center’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policy, BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ applications will be prioritized.

If the program cost is prohibitive to your participation and a scholarship is the only way you’d be able to enroll, please let us know in your scholarship application, including, if possible, an estimate of how much financial coverage would enable you to pay for the program. 

Our goal is to make the RGTP accessible for all while covering our expenses, so we’ll work with you to determine a fair and equitable scholarship amount as funds allow.

Whether or not you will be receiving financial aid through scholarship, there are other ways to reduce program costs, including:

• Paying at our sliding scale reduced cost rate of $2430 (85% of standard program rate). On a six installment payment plan after the $300 deposit, this comes out to about $355 paid monthly from April to September.
• Enrolling in a custom payment plan to further disperse payments.

Apply to join the 2026 Regenerative Grower Training Program by completing this form.

After you complete and submit your interest form, you will receive an email from the program instructors to schedule an informal get-to-know-you meeting where you’ll discuss your interests, goals, and needs. Meetings may be virtual or in-person at the Horn Farm.

Following your meeting with the instructors, you will receive an email from our program coordinator including a welcome message and a link to submit a nonrefundable $300 deposit. The deposit is required in order to officially enroll.

The application window to join the 2026 Regenerative Grower Training Program CLOSES at 12AM on Sunday, January 25th. 

Welcome to our ecosystem! A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the Horn Farm Center fosters ecological learning through land stewardship, community partnership, and hands-on experiences. Many students in our training programs come to us from prior experience taking a weekend class, volunteering, or joining an annual event like our Plant Sale or Wild & Uncommon Weekend. Some are just connecting with the Horn Farm Center for the first time. Wherever you may fall in our network, the best way to digest the full scope of our mission, history, philosophy, and restorative land impact is by exploring our virtual tour.

For additional questions about the Regenerative Grower Training Program, you can contact Jon Darby, the lead instructor, directly at j.darby@hornfarmcenter.org.