Market Gardener Program

We are nourishing communities through growing and sharing food. Since 2017, the two-acres of land along the North Limestone Corridor has served as an urban farm. From the beginnings, this space was dedicated to creating opportunities for growers to produce nutritious food for the city of Lexington without worrying about the cost of land. A donation can directly impact the growth of programs like the market gardener program, which has supported dozens of new market gardeners.

Applications open in late Summer | Hands on training and Site Tours during fall | Workshops during winter | Growing begins in early spring | Market season runs throughout the summer

Applications are NOW open through August 17th!

It is our goal for the Market Gardener program to equip new and aspiring urban food-focused entrepreneurs with the skills, knowledge, and resources needed to grow commercially, while nourishing communities and helping to create a robust local food landscape.

You can expect to learn:

  • Food safety practices and guidelines

  • Basic horticultural practices

  • General business planning

    Program Overview:

Throughout September, October and November, participants will dedicate 2 hours a week for hands-on training at the Seedleaf Community Farm as well attending tours at local farms like DreamTime Market Gardens, Salad Days Farm, and others.

Program participants take a break throughout December. This is a great time to utilize the quiet of the season as well as the knowledge, skills, and resources gleaned through the fall to dream up and focus on planning for future spring operations.

Throughout January and February, the program will continue to meet for 2 hours a week for indoor workshops covering topics such as pest identification with the UK extension office, seed selection from Johnny’s Selected Seeds, and more. The program concludes with a small graduation potluck in March. Once you complete the training portions of the program, you will have the option to grow on a parcel of land at the Community Farm. 

Each year our indoor workshops vary. A sample of some of our previous workshops are below:

  • Fruit Production with Dr. John Strang

  • Selling at the Farmer’s Market with Ryan Burnette

  • Selling produce to restaurants and kitchens with Leandra Forman

  • How to upcycle food waste into compost with Christine Smith

  • Business Planning and Marketing with Olivia Vogel and Spencer Guinn of KCARD

  • No-till farming with Jesse Frost and Hannah Crabtree

  • Diversifying Production with chickens with Travis Robinson

  • Seedkeeping with Chris Keeve

  • Caring for the Grower with Monet Proctor and Megan Pillsbury

  • Selling to restaurants, season extension, and more with Zach Selby

Field Trip Site Hosts of the Market Gardener Program

… and more!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • This is a year long process of guiding participants through basic horticultural practices, food safety, and general business planning.

    We start in September and the formal part of the program ends in March. Program graduates who wish to rent a parcel of land with Seedleaf will have the option to grow throughout the Summer with continued support in selling to outlets like the Lexington Farmers Market.

  • Participants meet weekly starting in September with the month of Decemeber off. This includes 24 hours of hands-on field training and 3 farm visits in the fall (12 sessions), 24 hours of workshops in the winter (12 sessions), and a 24-week market season throughout summer.

    The 2025-26 cohort will meet on Tuesdays from 4:00-6:00 pm.

  • Participants are paid a small stipend to support their participation in the program. In the spring season, they are given sections of land for their operations to apply what they have learned during the fall/winter months. This support from Seedleaf helps new market gardeners take risks and learn without the fear of financial ruin. Market gardeners keep all proceeds earned from their efforts.

  • Anyone 18+ who lives in Fayette County is welcome to apply while applications are open.

    This program seeks to create a diverse cadre of growers who are able to supply Lexington communities, markets, and restaurants with fresh, local produce.

  • Throughout the program, growers receive instruction, support, and connection to local market outlets for selling their produce. Seedleaf has partnered with Lexington Farmers Market to provide a fully supported market booth for growers to sell their produce on Sunday mornings at the Southland Drive Farmers Market from May to October.

  • Please feel welcome to reach out to farm@seedleaf.org for any further questions.

What Market Gardener Alumni are saying…