Join an OFA Farmer Circle
A supportive virtual community open to all farmers
What is a Farmer Circle?
Organic Farmers Association was created for farmers, by farmers.
In circles, farmers may share their experiences, voice challenges, identify farmer-led solutions, support each other, and form friendships or mentorships. Farmer Circles offer a place to build a supportive community for what farmers need on a regular basis.
The term farmer circle is symbolic of the relationships we aim to establish and maintain, allowing participants to share equally in the conversation in a non-hierarchical format. Farmer Circles meet via Zoom on a monthly basis and are facilitated spaces. Participation is open to all farmers who are organic curious, in transition, or already certified. OFA membership is not required to participate.
OFA’s purpose is to build and support a farmer-led national organic movement and we cannot do that without you! OFA Farmer Circles create a welcoming and safe space for farmers, farm workers, land owners, and others dedicated to the land and the organic movement to cultivate community with other organic farmers.
Current Farmer Circles
Collective Farmer Circle
The Collective Farmer Circle is a standing monthly community meeting open to all. This Circle aims to serve as a landing space for folks to come and learn about OFA, connect organic farmers across the country, and discuss what’s happening in the field. This circle may offer conversational focus around national programs, farmer challenges, etc. and is facilitated by the Farmer Services Team.
Soil & Soul Farmer Circle
The Soil & Soul series is a virtual workshop space for farmers who are organic curious, in transition, or certified organic. This series is designed to foster a holistic approach to farming, integrating wellness, cultural heritage, and practical skills for sustainable agriculture. Each session combines educational content with wellness practices and community storytelling.
Upcoming Farmer Circles
Collective Farmer Circle | Strategies for Raising Healthy Sheep on Pasture | August 21, 2025 (1-2pm, ET)
Rotating pastures, providing diverse and abundant forages, shade, and water can be done in a variety of ways depending on your ecosystem. Each year presents different challenges, and using these to improve your system in the future leads to continuous improvement for parasite management and pasture improvement.
Soil & Soul | Wellness Harvest: Your Wellness Reflects Your Harvest | August 14, 2025 (3-4pm, ET)
Just as our soil needs care to produce a thriving harvest, we must also nurture our physical and mental health. Through a guided body-scan meditation, we’ll take a moment to tune into our bodies and recognize the importance of rest and resilience. This session will also highlight essential resources, including farm safety programs and health insurance options, with a focus on support for marginalized farmers.
Let’s cultivate wellness together because a healthy farmer grows a healthy harvest!
Collective Farmer Circle | Fall Weed Management for Every Grower | September 18, 2025 (1-2pm, ET)
What issues did you have with weeds this summer? Teach you about what type of winter cover crops you could grow, and/or how soil nutrient imbalances can be corrected before next year. Possible future crop rotations and/or equipment that can improve weed management are helpful strategies for every type of grower.
Soil & Soul | Sacred Land Practices: Indigenous Wisdom in Organic Farming | September 11, 2025 (3-4pm, ET)
Gather to honor the deep connection between land, culture, and sustainability. Our guest speaker will share insights on Indigenous and Native regenerative agricultural practices, exploring how to care for the land as a sacred, living being. We will begin with a land acknowledgment and a guided gratitude practice, centering respect and reciprocity for the soil that sustains us.
Join us in learning, honoring, and cultivating a more regenerative future together!
Meet the Facilitators
Ina Maka is a natural mother, a steward, a student, a homesteader, an herbalist, a great many of things that bring her back to connection with the earth, preservation, and the revolution that is fellowship. Ina’s purpose and approach to this work is reconnection. She understands that there is a disconnection, especially within her own community to healthy food. Ina understands that a lack of knowledge and resources plaques people just like me and causes a gap in lifestyle choices. Her personal mission is to bridge those gaps within her community.
Please feel free to contact Ina with any questions at ina[@]organicfarmersassociation.org
For over 40 years, Harriet has been an organic educator (UW Madison, MOSES) and an organic inspector, visiting thousands of organic operations. She was the chair of the National Organic Standards Board in 2019. Organic inspectors, farmers, ranchers, bankers, USDA personnel, crop insurance agents, retail stores, veterinarians, extension agents and more have benefited from her deep knowledge of organic methods and regulations through written materials, webinars and in-person workshops. Harriet worked at the cooperative that became Organic Valley for their first 8 years, as the marketing coordinator and a management team member. She and her husband have managed a certified organic farm since 1989, growing bedding plants, vegetables, herbs and small grains as well as small scale commercial operation selling eggs and honey.
Harriet(at)OrganicFarmersAssociation.org
Recent Farmer Circles
Get Involved
Complete this Interest Form to learn more about Farmer Circles and how to get involved.
If a Farmer Circle is not currently offered that interests you, please email Project Manager Ryann Monteiro at ryann(at)organicfarmersassociation.org.
