Cultivating Success: Farm Beginnings Empowers Local Farmers

Farm Beginnings has been cultivating a new generation of successful small-scale farmers. For many aspiring and even experienced farmers, this course provides the knowledge and framework needed to transform passion into a thriving business. Adam and Apryl Mawby of Gardendwellers Farm and Ranch are a testament to the profound impact this program can have on local farming. Their journey together began in 2020, when they landed in Souris, North Dakota.

For Adam, who took the course in 2019, it was a pivotal experience that propelled his agricultural aspirations into a tangible career. As he explains, the program equipped him with the essential skills to transition from a "hobby farm to an agricultural enterprise," providing him with "a brand and a profitable reason behind doing what I was doing." Farm Beginnings empowered Adam to make informed decisions and strategically invest in ventures that would yield sustainable returns.

Apryl, a more experienced farmer when she enrolled in the 2022 cohort, found the course equally invaluable. While she possessed practical farming knowledge, Farm Beginnings filled the gaps in her business knowledge. It offered her a "broader perspective on how things should run," effectively teaching her "the ropes of running a business." This comprehensive understanding has been instrumental in shaping the operational success of Gardendwellers Farm and Ranch.

Drawing from their own positive experiences, Adam and Apryl recommend other aspiring farmers take the Farm Beginnings program. Apryl emphasizes its significance for those exploring small-scale alternative farming, particularly if they are uncertain about its suitability or where to even begin. "If you’re thinking about small scale alternative farming, but not sure if it’s the right fit for you, or where to start," she advises, "the Farm Beginnings program is a great way to build a good foundation of knowledge to get you started. I didn’t grow up farming, and have no formal business training, so it really helped me fill in the gaps and hone in on a plan for success.”

Adam and Apryl's dedication to their land and community is evident in the diverse offerings. They proudly provide their community with pastured lamb, chicken, pork, raw milk, culinary herbs, garlic, and natural herbal skin care products. Being good stewards of the land is the foundation of Gardendwellers Farm and Ranch. They integrate their livestock, poultry, and gardening methods to actively improve the health and vitality of their land.  You can find their products at (Minot farmers market), on their website, and social media.