Knowledge Commons FAQ

The Known & Grown Knowledge Commons connects you with experienced local farm coaches to help you find practical solutions, learn new skills, and build confidence on your farming journey. We’re taking an innovative approach to the loss of generational farmers by creating a way for farmers to have direct farm coaching, along with resources and community, in a way that feels more comfortable for modern learning styles and more accessible than a traditional mentorship program.

Working with a Farm Coach can help you:

• Solve problems with practical real world solutions
• Learn new skills
• Save time by learning from the expertise and mistakes of other farmers
• Build relationships with other farmers
• Gain confidence and skills to help you on your farming journey

Each coach has a profile page describing their coaching philosophy, farming experience, and areas of expertise. Review Knowledge Commons coach profiles to find the right coach for you.

Simply complete the online Farm Coach Request Form. We will ask you a few questions about which coach you’d like to request, your farming goals, and what you’d like help with.

Your request will be sent to your selected Farm Coach and the Known & Grown Team for review. Your coach will then contact you via email within 7 days to schedule your session.

Farm coaching is not an emergency service. Your selected coach will reach out to you within 7 business days of your request. You and your coach will find a time that works with both of your schedules, ideally within a month of your request. Please keep in mind that our coaches are working farmers.

If you chose a 3-session package, you should plan to schedule all sessions within 8-12 weeks.

Whether you’re an aspiring farmer just starting out, a beginning farmer in your first few years, or an established farmer looking to refine your practices, our Coaches are here to support you.

Yes. Sessions via phone or video call are available to farmers regardless of location. However, given regional variations in farming, we do not recommend this service for farmers outside of the Midwest. In-person, on-farm consultations are limited to a reasonable distance for our Farm Coaches to travel. See individual Farm Coach profiles for specific limitations.

Farm coaches are here to listen, ask thought-provoking questions, share their own experience when relevant, and help you make more informed decisions that fit your specific needs. The best coaching is a collaboration between you and your coach that will build confidence and problem-solving skills on your farm. Having a clear idea of your goals will help your Coach tailor their approach.

Yes. We believe it’s important to compensate our Farm Coaches for their time and expertise. 100% of the coaching fee goes to the Farm Coach. Our current rates are:

• 30–60 minute phone or Zoom consultation: $50
• Three 30-60 minute consultation package: $125
• On-farm site visit: $300

Yes! To ensure all farmers can benefit from farm coaching regardless of financial circumstances, you may request a reduced rate of 50–100% off the cost of a coaching session based on your needs. We do not ask for income verification or other information to qualify for a reduced rate. These subsidized sessions are available on a first-come, first-served basis while funding lasts.

On-farm consultations should take approximately 1-2 hours. Coaches may ask for additional info, including photos, prior to their visit to help streamline the consultation.

If you’re not finding a coach that fits your needs, please email Erin@GatewayFarmers.org. We’ll do our best to pair you with someone who can guide you to practical solutions or direct you elsewhere for resources to best address your needs.

If you find that you need more time with your coach after a session, simply request another coaching session through the Farm Coach Request Form and select the option below on the form.

Your information will only be used to coordinate your coaching request with your selected coach. No personal data will be sold or given to any outside organizations. Information used for grant reporting will not include any personally identifying details without explicit permission.

Yes! We encourage you to complete an evaluation following your coaching session. If you book multiple sessions, you can submit a new evaluation for each session.

Evaluations are an important part of making this program a success, and your feedback is appreciated. The Known & Grown team will review evaluations as they are submitted to make improvements to the program. Your coach will also receive evaluation feedback. No personal data will be sold or given to any outside organizations. Information used for grant reporting will not include any personally identifying details without explicit permission.