Repasts Present & Future and Selma Cafe have recently announced the formation of The Four Season Farmer Development Program (4SFDP). This incubator farm program will stimulate the creation of new farm businesses in Washtenaw County by putting land and resources into the hands of new farmers.

The 4SFDP is funded by a Conservation Innovation Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and it has found a home on land owned by Ann Arbor Township. Current and funded infrastructure development include a large barn that is under restoration, water and electrical utilities, hoop houses, a produce wash and pack facility and root cellar storage. The program is slated to start in March, 2011. Additional programs are in development to create permanent farm sites on leased or purchased land as well as other educational opportunities and shared resources.

A public meeting is being held upstairs at The Grange Kitchen and Bar, 118 W Liberty, this Saturday, Jan. 22 at 3 p.m., including a question and answer period and opportunities to discuss this exciting new program.

For more information, please contact Jeff McCabeat jeff@selmacafe.org or Lisa Gottlieb at lisa@selmacafe.org.