Basic training:
The Learning Farm’s basic training program is an intensive, five month residential program aimed at changing attitudes of the participants about themselves, their futures and the environment. 

It consists of three integrated components:

1. Organic Farming
2. Life Skills
3. Entrepreneurship

The goal is that through the hard work, responsibility, accountability, planning, analysis and teamwork learned through organic farming, these youth will be better equipped to navigate life, contribute to their communities and understand themselves and their actions in the larger context of the environment. These are important skills and capacities regardless of whether the youth choose organic farming as a career or go on to do anything else they may choose such as returning to school, completing an equivalency degree, becoming a teacher, a social worker or small businessman.

Advanced training:

Advanced students are given responsibility for mentoring new students, supervising them in their fieldwork, and being a positive role model. They have very specific duties in terms of supervising a production plot, managing the nursery, helping with marketing, processing, and delivery. Advanced students learn how to perform in a supervisory role and also participate in community development efforts such as working with local farmers to convert their fields to organic cultivation. Staff work with advanced students to identify and explore additional areas of study or go over prior areas in more depth.

Apprentices:

At this stage they are no longer considered students and have duties that are challenging and support the running of The Learning Farm. Currently we have three apprentices. One is the manager of the entire production area. Another is the marketing coordinator and supervises processing, packing, preparation of orders, and billing. Another is an assistant facilitator and helps staff teach classes and deliver trainings to local farmers and visitors.

PEAK Mentoring Program with PricewaterhouseCoopers Indonesia:

This is the second time skilled managers from PricewaterhouseCoopers have committed to provide mentoring to advanced students at The Learning Farm. This innovative and unusual initiative pairs skilled professionals with advanced students to gain and sharpen basic employment skills like communication, marketing, and job hunting.

The Impact of Our Work:

• 215 young people, ages 16-24

• 70% graduation rate for Phase I, with 90% success rate of graduates engaged in going to school, reuniting with their families and other productive activity

• 60% of recent class graduates earn their livelihoods through organic farming, starting organic farming enterprises and working on commercial organic farms as staff, supervisors and consultants.

To date we have had seven classes with 215 participants. Since we started, the graduation rate has climbed steadily, with on average 70% of all participants completing Phase 1. Of the graduates, more than 90% have subsequently gone on to doing something positive - meaning they are working, going to school, or helping their families in some capacity. The numbers involved in organic farming have also risen to above 60% of graduates from the last class. We have staff who regularly monitor the progress of our graduates. Particularly for those involved in organic farming, we provide technical and marketing assistance.

Training Local Farmers in Organic Farming and Conservation:

Staff and advanced students have been training local farmers groups in the basics of organic farming and production management. In addition, teams of students have been visiting farmers twice weekly to help convert their fields to organic cultivation. Future plans include planting productive tree species like coffee and avocado trees to help stabilize areas vulnerable to erosion as well as the planting of endemic species in the buffer area adjacent to the Gede Pangrango National Park.

HERO Marketing:

The Learning Farm recently signed a marketing agreement with HERO supermarket chain to sell produce from farmers being trained on the border of the Gede Pangrango National Park and alumni, advancing small enterprise, wider spread of sustainable agriculture and adoption of agro-forestry and conservation. The Learning Farm will be helping market produce from this effort under an eco – social – conservation brand.

Reducing Child Labor:

The Learning Farm is providing technical and curriculum input as well as training of trainers who will deliver life skills training to thousands of former child laborers from palm oil plantations in West Kalimantan under the U.S. Department of Labor funded, EXCEED: Eliminate Exploitive Child labor through Education and Economic Development which is a joint Save The Children and World Education project.

Training/Courses for Students/Organizations/General Public:

Organic farming is not just a rich educational medium for disadvantaged youth. It is rapidly becoming an essential environmental life skill for everyone! The Learning Farm has trained staff from organizations as far away as Aceh, students from local and international schools, and staff from corporations.