Foundations for Farming USA Training for Trainers

Summer Training 2025

(Saturday, June 7th - Wednesday, June 11th, 2025)

There is a growing need in our troubled times for people to learn how to grow food in a simple, uncomplicated manner that produces joy and freedom in their life. But to really do this they also need the transforming hope of the message of Jesus. Foundations for Farming is an approach to food production that is based on the heart of Jesus and produces incredible yields through simple, low-tech methods. Through tools like the Well-Watered Garden we seek to give people simple approaches that enable people to grow food in a simple way that is easy to pass on to others. Our vision is to equip a network of trainers about the United States and world who can help meet the growing demand for solutions to the looming global food crisis.

This is specifically for people who feel called to impact others by hosting their own trainings in their own community or through existing mission or ministry work. This is 'training for trainers' and will be limited to a small group so that we will be able to cater it to the specific needs and situations of the students attending. We will need a minimum of 5 adult attendees and maximum of 10. We plan to offer these training multiple times throughout the year and students will need to attend one of the subsequent scheduled trainings if the registration for this training is too small or full. Follow up support will be available as graduates host their own trainings in the coming months.

What You Will Learn

We will be training students to teach others from a Gospel-based Biblical worldview using the Well-Watered Garden training curriculum 12-lesson program.

By the end of the training you will be able to:

Communicate how the gospel relates to agriculture.
Understand what it takes to have soil that produces abundant crops naturally
Manage your garden in a way that produces joy and makes a profit.
Use eight simple questions to create an easy, but effective garden plan.
Clear a spot for your garden without plowing or tilling
Make thermal compost and natural organic fertilizers
Layout garden beds with a simple system that allows for ease of management and space for a variety of crops.
Plant seeds or transplants with a simple spacing system that is easy to follow and remember.
Care faithfully for your garden with three simple tasks.
Share your faith in Jesus through your garden.
Train others in what you have just learned.

We will also be covering more in-depth topics like:

Scaling up for homestead-level food security
Growing for markets
Alternative (off-grid) energy
Backyard chickens
Home dairy operations

There will also be time for discussion and questions for more specific topics pertinent to the students attending.

Training Location

This training will be hosted at Rora Valley Farms in Goodwater, Alabama and will include both classroom and practical training as well as practice actually teaching others. No previous agricultural experience is required.

If you are flying, Birmingham, Alabama is the closest major airport (1 hour from the farm). Atlanta can also have cheaper flights but it is a 2.5 hour drive from the farm.

Students will arrive for lunch on Saturday and will leave after lunch on Wednesday. Housing will be in shared rooms on the farm or at a nearby camp (couples and families will get private rooms) and meals will be provided family style at our off-grid farmhouse. We will do our best to accommodate any food allergies.

Who is this training for?

Whether you are a full time farmer, part time homesteader, backyard gardener, farmer wanna-be, or someone interested in incorporating agriculture as part of your ministry or church, this training is designed to help you in the journey God has you on. Our goal is that you will leave equipped to live for Jesus, excel in agriculture, and make disciples!

Trainers

Noah Sanders Farmer, Homesteader, Author, Foundations for Farming USA Representative

Noah Sanders is a farmer, homesteader, and author in Goodwater, Alabama. He is a passionate follower of Jesus who desires to know Him more and make disciples through his daily life. Together with his wife, Dorothy, and seven children, Noah has run a small farming operation producing vegetables and poultry products using all-natural techniques based on the design of God in Creation. They homestead and raise much of their own food.

Noah is the author of Born-Again Dirt, Farming to the Glory of God. In this book he attempts to encourage Christians to think about agriculture from a biblical worldview. He is also involved with Foundations for Farming, a ministry based out of Zimbabwe, Africa, that uses agriculture to make disciples of Jesus and bring hope to the poor. As the US Representative for Foundations for Farming Noah uses his farm as a place to train Christians in agriculture that starts with a heart for Jesus. He has also put on several “Redeeming the Dirt” conferences that included speakers like Joel Salatin of Polyface Farm, Chuck Bentley of Crown Financial Ministries, and Brian Oldreive of Foundations for Farming.

Noah desires to see the church equipped to be leaders in faithful stewardship of the land. He believes that agriculture can be a great tool to help make disciples and display the Glory of God to those around us. It is his prayer that God will raise up a generation of ‘born-again’ farmers whose excellence in producing food will enable them to bring hope to the hopeless and introduce people to the author of life Himself.

William Tom Foundations for Farming International Trainer

William Tom is a native of Zimbabwe, Africa. He has been working as a trainer in Conservation Agriculture for Foundations for Farming over the past 15 years. William was one of Noah's certifying trainers in Zimbabwe in 2013. Currently he serves as part of the international training team and travels all over the world to help different nations implement better methods of land stewardship.

As an example, he has recently served in Madagascar working with the President of Madagascar to implement Foundations for Farming on a national level. William has been a trainer with Noah at previous Redeeming the Dirt events in 2015 and 2016. He brings a wealth of training knowledge, a dynamic in-field teaching style, a heart for worship, and a passionate love for Jesus and others.

Johann van der Ham Foundations for Farming and Crown Financial Trainer

Johann van der Ham is an accomplished Film & Story Manager at Crown Financial Ministries with a rich history of impactful work in Africa. He is the founder of the Crown Stewardship School in Blantyre, Malawi, and the author of the influential guide, "The African Money Map." Johann's vision and leadership have been instrumental in initiating the partnership between Foundations for Farming and Crown Financial Ministries.

Johann's creative prowess extends to the film industry, where he has directed and produced notable feature films, including “Times of Change” and “Chibwana Chimalanda.” His contributions to financial stewardship and education were recognized in 2018 when he received the prestigious Larry Burkett Award from Crown Financial Ministries.

An ordained pastor under Agapé Ministries International, Johann holds a four-year diploma in Practical Ministries from Agapé Ministries International South Africa. With 27 years of missionary experience in Africa, he has dedicated his life to serving communities in Lesotho and Malawi. His multilingual abilities (English, Afrikaans, and Chichewa) enhance his outreach and connection with diverse populations.

In addition to his roles in film and ministry, Johann serves on the Foundations for Farming international forum and as the vice chairman of Crown Malawi. He is also a director of Mustard Ltd., a food processing business in Malawi, where he applies his leadership and business acumen.

Outside of his professional commitments, Johann enjoys hiking, rock climbing, cycling, gardening, and photography. His passion for these activities reflects his love for nature and the outdoors, enriching his life and work in meaningful ways.

Johann van der Ham's journey is a testament to his dedication to stewardship, education, and creative expression, making a lasting impact on the communities he serves.

Example Schedule (days to be adjusted)

June 2025 Training for Trainers Registration

Registration

Adult ($800.00)
Includes training and materials. Meals and lodging will be provided.
Accompanying Child age 3-12 ($250.00)
This is for children accompanying a registered adult.

If you are registering your child, please put the name of the registered adult they will be attending with.

If you will be attending with your spouse please put their name here (they will still need to register separately)

Church or Mission Organization

Please describe any food allergies you have here.

Please list any physical limitations you have that you want us to know about.

Why are you attending this training and what do you hope to learn?

How did you hear about this training?

What is your previous agricultural experience?

What is your faith story?

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$800.00

Total

$800.00

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