Still at school

You must finish your formal education! But if you are considering what GCSE's or A levels to take, think about those that will be most useful to you. Subjects like Biology and Geography have a lot of relevance to farming and growing. If you have the choice, you could take a vocational qualification such as a GNVQ in practical subjects such as land &environment or business.

Do you want to go to college or university to further your specialist subject? If so, your GCSE, A level or GNVQ choices will affect your chances of entry. However, getting a formal qualification is by no means essential for becoming a farmer or grower – there are many options available.

Perhaps most importantly is the opportunity to gain practical experience. Never cut a cabbage, sheared a sheep or rotavated a field before? Everyone has to start somewhere! There are many opportunities for the over 16's to gain experience on farms that will pay dividends in later years. If you're not yet 16, read books, visit demonstration farms and talk to farmers. Contacts and knowledge gained at an early stage will become invaluable later.

Visit an organic farm
WWOOF UK
Soil Association classified ads
BDAA work opportunities

At college or university

If you are on an agriculture or horticulture course, practical skills should be an integral part of the course – sadly this isn't always the case. If you have the opportunity to take a placement year (or shorter period) make the most of it. Many organic farmers and growers will gladly take on enthusiastic students who want to work hard and learn at the same time. Take opportunities to gain experience during holidays if possible.

If your course is entirely unrelated to your desired profession, try to gain experience during the holidays, read books and talk to people in the industry. It's often who you know as much as what you know! Gain as much technical knowledge as possible, on top of what you learn as standard on the course.

Garden Organic
Organic Inform
Soil Association Food and Farming
Organic Postal Library
Organic Growers Alliance
Organic Centre Wales

Making the leap

If you've been a worker on a farm for years but want to make the break to your own business, you need to gain some more specialist skills that will allow you to go from employee to business owner. It is likely you will have most of the practical skills necessary, but running a business require a wider range of skills, from marketing to tax returns. Learning this can be skill but is every bit as important as knowing how to grow crops.

Finding an opportunity to start up your own business may manifest itself in several ways, from national adverts to a farmer up the road who you have got to know and is willing to offer you the chance for a break.

One day training events are a useful time to see other people's ideas and to network.

Soil Association: events
Biodynamic Agricultural Association: events
Garden Organic: events for growers
Garden Organic: events for gardeners
Organic Inform: events
Soil Association Scotland: events
Business Link

A chnage of career

Whether you're burnt out from a stressful job or bored from years of the same drudgery, a career in organic farming or growing offers something that no other job can. However, a change of career must not be taken lightly – you must recognise the realities of the job. Being physically and mentally prepared for long hours and hard work is critically important. Business income can be low initially and you are unlikely to ever generate exceptional profits that many industries take as baseline minimum.

You can pick up specialist skills and experience from many places and you may already have the capital to invest in land and/or a business. Either way, you must plan finances carefully as you would with any other business. There will inevitably be a transition from your old job to your new career and this balance can be difficult to manage. But having an income to support your living costs during this transition can be invaluable.