Indigenous Food System Planning & Design Program Tier 1

Transform your local food vision into a professional, grant-ready project package through this 20-week collaborative mentorship. You will walk away ... Show more

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Course details

Duration 20 weeks

Lectures 52

Level Advanced

1 year from start date

Basic info

Target Audience: Community members, land managers, and economic development officers who are passionate about food sovereignty.
Prerequisites: A good foundational understanding of food systems, community, and ecological patterns. Professional background is not required, but a passion for self-determined community development is essential.
Technical Requirements: Regular access to a computer is a must. Participants should be comfortable with basic computer applications, maps, and navigating online learning environments.
Duration: 20 Weeks (September – February).
Registration: Standard rate includes up to 2 participants per project.
Access: Full content access for 1 year from the start date

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Executive Summary:

The Indigenous Food System Planning & Design Program is a capacity-building initiative designed to addresses the critical need for quality, self-determined food system planning and design that is both accessible and sustainable for all communities. Rather than relying on external firms, this program empowers local champions to lead a distinctions-based planning and design process that ensures cultural alignment and long-term project resilience.

The Economic Advantage:

Hiring a private firm to develop a food system master plan can cost a community between $30,000 and $75,000+, often resulting in a static document. This program provides the same functional outcomes— site assessments, concept designs, and implementation workplans—for a fraction of the cost (starting at $4,500). However, unlike a one-time consulting contract, this program offers a permanent support network and ensures the knowledge, skills, and design-thinking remains within the community.

Key Program Pillars: A New Model for Food Sovereignty

1. Collaborative Consulting & Functional Outcomes This program is a first-of-its-kind hybrid that replaces the external consultant with a community-led mentorship model. Participants are trained to lead their own community engagement and site assessments following a proven consulting framework. This process ensures high-quality results without the external price tag, resulting in a “grant-ready” project package. By the end of the program, communities possess an attainable, site-specific design and the detailed budgeting required to secure immediate infrastructure and operational funding.

2. Self-Determination through Distinctions-Based Planning True food sovereignty requires moving away from generalized, one-size-fits-all models. Our approach prioritizes self-determination by emphasizing designs that are culturally and contextually relevant to the unique identity of each community and its specific ecological conditions. By empowering local champions to lead the research and visioning, we ensure that the resulting food system is a direct reflection of the people and the land it serves.

3. Project-Centric Resilience & Institutional Memory To ensure lasting success and protect the community’s investment, our support network is attached to the project, not just the individual. This project-centric model creates vital institutional memory; if a staff member moves on, the project remains in the program and continues to receive the same level of guidance. Standard registration includes up to two participants per project, building internal redundancy and fostering the collaborative environment necessary to move a project forward.

4. Continuous Mentorship & The Stewardship Network Project success is a long-term journey that extends far beyond the initial design. We fill a critical gap in project survival by offering continuous mentorship and long-term touchpoints to help community champions navigate the complexities of implementation. Through our Community of Practice and the available Stewardship & Management extension, we provide the ongoing support needed to overcome the common “two-year slump,” helping projects navigate staff transitions, capacity shifts, and the search for sustained funding.

Investment Tiers & Strategic Extensions

Program Tiers

Tier 1: Community Partnership ($4,500): The 20-week core program, digital/physical Toolkit, lifetime Community of Practice access, quarterly Alumni Connection calls, and ongoing Grant Alerts.
Tier 2: Technical Mentorship ($6,500): Tier 1 plus 4 hours of private 1-on-1 mentorship, a professional “Ready-to-Build” Implementation Audit, and grant application support for one 2027 application.
Tier 3: Long-Term Legacy ($9,500): Tier 1 & 2 plus “Slump Insurance” (10 total hours of mentorship usable over 5 years), expanded grant support (3 applications), and annual Priority Planning calls for the first 5 years.

High-Touch Add-Ons

In-Person “Catalyst” Partnership (Approx. $2,300–$9,200): Includes a 2-day on-site intensive visit to your community to ground-truth designs, assist with site assessments, or help facilitate engagement. Please email us for pricing and availability.
Food System Stewardship & Management (Jan–June 2027): A 24-module operational masterclass focused on the technical “how-to” of running the garden.
- Bundle Discount: Save 25% on the Stewardship program when purchased with the Planning & Design program ($5,625 total for base tiers).

Orientation & Introductions

Module 1: Site Assessment & Engagement Planning

Module 2: Community Engagement & Visioning

Module 3: Interpreting Site Assessments & Visioning

Module 4: Whole-Systems Design

Module 5: Project Development Planning

What if I can’t attend the live classes?

All live sessions will be recorded and posted to our learning platform within 24 hours of the live class. The program schedule has been designed to try and accommodate global attendance (9:00am to noon or 5:30 pm to 7:30pm Pacific Time)

Do I need a specific professional background or degree to attend?

No. This program is designed to be highly accessible. While land managers and development officers are welcome to participate, we encourage any community member who is passionate and dedicated to join. What matters most is a solid understanding of food systems, culture, and relationships in nature (ecology).

What technical skills do I need?

Success in this program requires a level of digital literacy. You will need to be comfortable using maps and standard computer applications, as well as navigating online events and learning platforms. Access to a computer is mandatory for all participants.

How does "Project-Centric Support" work?

Our commitment is to the success of your community's project. Unlike typical training, our mentorship and long-term supports are attached to the project itself. If a staff member leaves or your team changes, the project remains enrolled, and the new team members will receive the same level of guidance and historical context from our instructor.

Who should attend from our community?

The standard registration is for two participants to ensure collaboration and redundancy. Ideal candidates are "Community Champions," land managers, economic development officers, or individuals dedicated to the project's long-term implementation.

Can we register more than two people?

Yes. If your organization wants more than 2 participants to attend or is working on more than one distinct project, please utilize our Group Rate. Reach out via the contact form for a custom quote.

Is this program eligible for Band/Community funding?

Yes. Because this program results in professional deliverables (Site Assessments, Master Designs, Project Development Plans, and Budgets) and builds internal capacity, many communities fund this through capacity-building, food sovereignty, or climate adaptation grants.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: September 21st
PROGRAM START: September 28st
Note: Communities wishing to enroll more than 2 participants or work on multiple distinct projects should contact us for the Group Rate.

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