The USDA gave me more free help this week... and I didn't have to sign a contract

I understand government paranoia - trust me. However, the USDA's NRCS branch has been nothing but kind and helpful to me, without requiring a single contract to be signed.

(Fur on my shirt brought to you by my rabbit: Moon)

I used to work for the state of New York back in 2014. Over a decade ago, I used to go into work and write the proclamations and media statements you probably read (if you’re from the Northeast) from local politicians. I knew it wasn’t a sustainable career for me as I am too sensitive of a soul to handle the lying, manipulation, and drama.

However, the job gave me invaluable exposure to what really goes on with government programs. I realize today my personal experience I had with grants and government programs is a major reason why I was brave enough to dive headfirst into the USDA’s EQIP program.

“Signing a contract with the government is like dancing with the devil,” many proclaimed under my social media posts.

The irony here is that: I have not signed a single binding contract with the USDA.

I had another call with the USDA today that included a biologist, pollinator specialist, and additional personnel that have been assigned to helping me get my vision straight for my property. We spent nearly 60-minutes going over the incredible guide their pollinator specialist drafted for my land, soil, and location. Here are just some snippets from it:

The guide covered three different distinct projects I could pursue under their EQIP program to restore my land to its true native pollinator potential.

We spent time going over how the process will unfold from this point forward:

1. They will get back to me in January about a cost estimate for implementing these different projects.

2. In February, we will finalize the official scope of the project for my property. Many of the things I want to do, they said, can be pushed to 2026 as a new project or an extension of this one.

3. On March 14, 2025, I will learn if I have won any of the grant funds.

ONLY after the grant money is announced is a contract produced for me to sign. Up until that point, I am not bound to anything with the USDA. They explained to me if I win grant money, I will have to sign a contract stating that I plan to fulfill all of the obligations outlined in the project scope. The contract is required for me to receive grant funds (duh). Even if I win grant money, I am still not required to sign the contract. Basically, I am not bound to anything unless I consent to it only AFTER knowing I am going to receive money.

Until that point, I am a free agent who has submitted nothing to these people. In the interim, I have already received multiple hours of their time, maps, print-outs, brochures, and a pollinator guide made specifically for me. They also provided me with a New York State list of plant nurseries that carry native plants that are not descended from cultivars. On our call today, we went over things like invasive species, how to remove honeysuckle, grow schedules, the best way to bring water to areas far away from the barn, tractors, and so many other invaluable topics.

I was able to ask their scientists anything I wanted about my property - and they were there to listen and respond!

It just has my mind blown!

If you don’t want to sign a contract with the government, that’s fine. In the mean-time, this is the kind of support you could be receiving. I find it to be incredibly helpful as someone who has never seriously gardened or farmed before. Never in a million years could I have compiled the list of native plants I was shown that were selected for my region, weather, and soil type. I plan to know everything there is about my land a decade from now - but I only just began gardening this past July. I have a long way to go!

I believe these programs can make a huge difference in the next generations of farmers. We desperately need people to take up the call of farming, or conservationism, or gardening, or urban gardening, or any form of it. The majority of American farmers are over the age of 60. They are retiring. Who is going to take their place?

If you’re feeling the call, I feel passionately about sharing this information to show you there are support networks.

At the same time, I just completed my first Cornell Small Farms course (it was only $250 for 6-weeks of virtual instruction) on Outdoor Mushroom Cultivation. It was really all you’d need to start very own mushroom farming operation. That’s not a lot of educational investment to get started, in my opinion.

If you throw it all together… combine the USDA (NRCS/EQIP) with Cornell’s online catalog of courses, and you can find yourself in an experienced position, quickly, to rollout any kind of agricultural or environmental plan at your property.

As I have outlined before: for the USDA’s EQIP program, there is NO acreage minimum! If you think you need 100 acres, think again.

I share this information not to brag but because I truly believe we will have a more vibrant future with more farmers, smaller farms, permaculture operations, more conservationists, urban farms, and first-generation farmers who are willing to do things a little bit differently. We are losing farmland (and experienced farmers) by the day right now. We lost 21 million acres of farmland from 2017 until 2023.

There are support networks in place if you’re feeling the pull. Please strongly consider checking out the USDA, NRCS, and the EQIP program that has been funded with nearly $3 billion dollars for 2025.

As always, I plan to keep you all updated here about my experience with the program and the grant money. It’s been a very interesting experiment, to say the least, and I am absolutely blown away by the kindness and free support that I have received.

To be continued…

I cover all things land loans, first-generation farming, starting my own farm, Amish culture, and the imminent agricultural (and environmental) revolution in America. Follow along!