Seed to Seed (S2S) Farm School’s mission is to educate the next generation of growers while helping to reduce labor costs for established farmers.
We offer a decentralized educational program for beginning farmers by partnering with growers throughout southern New England. We promote organic and real regenerative practices. We provide apprenticeships on multiple farms and a core educational foundation in a single growing season.
S2S fast-tracks young growers to either join the workforce as managerially-skilled staff or start agricultural businesses of their own through on-farm work experience, the S2S apprenticeship curriculum, and the S2S network.
John Kenny, owner/operator of Big Train Farm, is the current director of Seed to Seed Farm School.
Tiferet Rose and Dr. Alejandro Brambila are the current leadership and advisory board of Seed to Seed Farm School.
S2S is fiscally sponsored by Farm Fresh Rhode Island and seeks to hire a Program Manager in the near 2025. Please reach out if you are interested in working with us.
Instructors
John Kenny is S2S founder and director. He has been farming for over twenty years and has been running Big Train Farm, a certified organic farm in Rhode Island since 2008.
John has been working with growers of all kinds, big and small, as a collaborator, educator, and student for his entire career. He received a bachelors degree from the University of Rhode Island in biological sciences (specialty in botany), organic chemistry, and wildlife biology. He completed his degree in 2010 after starting his farming business in 2008.
John attempts to be a resource for farmers young and old with a commitment to honesty and modesty in his approach. John still sees himself very much as a student and is always honored to have the opportunity to learn and to teach.
John currently offers three courses through the S2S Farm School:
Build Your Farm business training for farmers.
Soil Science, Plant Biology, and Organic Methods course (14th annual offering)
One Year of Botany course.