Center for Land Based Learning

What Center for Land Based Learning does

The Center for Land-Based Learning (CLBL) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1993 and headquartered on a 30-acre campus known as The Maples Farm in Woodland, California. The organization delivers hands-on agricultural education and career-training programming aimed at closing the gap between people, their food supply, and the land. It serves three primary constituencies: California youth (through FARMS Leadership, SLEWS, Caring for Our Watersheds, and Urban Ag Internships), aspiring and beginning farmers (through the California Farm Academy, Apprenticeship Program, Explorer Course, and Farm Start), and underserved communities (through the Community Food Program and Mobile Farmers Market). A secondary veteran and women-in-agriculture cohort is supported through dedicated scholarship funding from the Farmer Veteran Coalition and Les Dames d'Escoffier.

CLBL's programmatic technology base is intentionally low-tech and experiential: physical farm infrastructure (the 30-acre Maples Farm HQ plus secondary sites at Riverfront Farm in West Sacramento and Aggie Square in Sacramento), field-day and workshop facilities, and an online course delivery layer via the Thinkific platform for courses such as Agricultural Irrigation Management, Livestock Management, and Tractor and Field Operation. The Farm & Climate Program adds a research and best-practices layer around carbon farming and climate-resilient agriculture. Programs are delivered across 27 California counties in partnership with school districts, landowners, municipalities, and conservation districts.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid nonprofit model. Program fees ($75-$595 per participant for adult courses, $215-$595 for technical certifications) contribute earned revenue, but the bulk of operating support comes from charitable donations, membership in 1% for the Planet, grant funding (e.g., from the Sacramento Sewer District and Farmer Veteran Coalition), and event fundraising (notably the annual Dinner on the Farm at $125 per ticket). Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: monthly Speaker Series events, field days, workshops, and direct outreach through school-district and municipal partnerships. The organization is led by CEO Mary Kimball and was named 2025 California Nonprofit of the Year for Senate District 3.

Name

Center for Land Based Learning

Legal name

Center for Land-Based Learning

Website

https://landbasedlearning.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Center for Land-Based Learning is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1993 that delivers hands-on agricultural education, beginning-farmer training, and youth programs from its 30-acre Maples Farm in Woodland, California, serving learners and communities across 27 California counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Education and Workforce Development

NAICS

Support Activities for Crop Production (11511), Support Activities for Crop Production (1151), Support Activities for Animal Production (115210)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable/Regenerative Agriculture & Conservation Practices (EDAOAOAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Carbon, Sustainability & Farm Certification Support (Agro-Environmental Advisory) (AFACABAL), Agricultural Mechanics, Equipment Operation & Maintenance (EDAOAOAI)

Keywords

• Agricultural education programs
• Farmer training programs
• Community food access
• Watershed stewardship programs
• Sustainable agriculture training

Headquarters

HQ city

Woodland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Course and Workshop Fees: Revenue from paid educational programs including the California Farm Academy courses, workshops, and certification programs for beginning farmers and agricultural professionals.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Charitable donations from individuals, members of 1% for the Planet, and supporters. Includes direct donations, event fundraising (Dinner on the Farm tickets), and grant funding.
3. Community Food Program: Mobile Farmers Market bringing fresh produce to underserved neighborhoods, with revenue supporting local farmers and program operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Center for Land-Based Learning delivers hands-on agricultural education, beginning farmer training, youth programming, and community food access services from its 30-acre headquarters at The Maples Farm in Woodland, California. Its portfolio includes the FARMS and SLEWS youth programs, the California Farm Academy (apprenticeships and courses in livestock, irrigation, tractor operation, and farm business), the Community Food Program operating a Mobile Farmers Market, the Farm & Climate Program, workshops, and a Speaker Series, operating across 27 California counties.

Product overview

Center for Land-Based Learning offers a portfolio of interconnected educational programs focused on agricultural training, youth development, and community food access across California. The core programs include FARMS and SLEWS for youth education, California Farm Academy for career advancement through apprenticeships and courses, the Community Food Program featuring the Mobile Farmers Market for food equity, and the Farm & Climate Program for climate-resilient agriculture. Additional offerings include workshops (Native Plant Propagation, Livestock, Irrigation, Tractor Operation) and the Speaker Series for ongoing community education. Programs operate from the 30-acre headquarters at The Maples Farm in Woodland, CA, with services spanning 27 California counties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• FARMS Program Farming, Agriculture, and Resource Management for Sustainability — a high-school education program providing hands-on experiences for California youth in agriculture and natural resources.
• SLEWS Program Student and Landowner Education and Watershed Stewardship Program connecting students and landowners in hands-on watershed education and conservation projects.
• Caring for Our Watersheds Youth program that empowers students to identify and address local watershed issues through hands-on conservation projects.
• Urban Ag Internships Internship program providing practical farming skills and community-building experience in urban agricultural settings.
• California Farm Academy Career advancement program offering apprenticeships, training courses, and educational pathways for aspiring farmers and agricultural professionals, including courses on livestock, irrigation, tractor operation, and farm business.
• Community Food Program Program focused on food access and equity, operating the Mobile Farmers Market Truck to bring fresh produce to underserved neighborhoods in Yolo and Sacramento.
• Mobile Farmers Market Mobile market truck bringing farm-fresh produce to communities with limited food access, operating at multiple locations including Aggie Square in Sacramento and Riverfront Farm in West Sacramento.
• Farm & Climate Program Program focused on climate-resilient agriculture, offering carbon farming education, research, and replicable best practices for sustainable land management.
• Native Plant Propagation Workshop Three-hour hands-on workshop teaching propagation techniques including cuttings, layering, divisions, and seed starting for California native plants. $75 per participant; scholarships available for women (50%) and veterans (100%).
• Getting Started with Livestock 5-week introductory course covering livestock management for poultry, hogs, and ruminants, including nutrition, housing, health care, and small-scale farming practices. $215 per participant.
• Agricultural Irrigation Management 8-week introductory course building practical irrigation skills through live online instruction and on-farm lab work, covering California water infrastructure, system design, and scheduling. $595 per participant.
• Tractor and Field Operation Course 4-week hands-on course covering tractor and field operation skills for beginning farmers. $270 per participant.
• Dinner on the Farm Annual farm-to-table fundraising dinner event held at the Center's headquarters at The Maples Farm, featuring a local chef and seasonal menu from farm ingredients. $125 per person.
• Speaker Series Monthly educational events featuring presentations on agriculture, environment, and conservation topics, with networking and wood-fired pizza. Free with $20 donation appreciated.

Quantifiable outcome

• Programs serve thousands of students, beginning farmers, veterans, and adult learners annually
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Yolo County Resource Conservation DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 May 2026Co-hosted the Carbon Farming Field Day 2026 with CLBL, providing agricultural producers and ranchers with education on carbon farm practices, funding opportunities, and technical assistance.
• Slow FoodflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCLBL is one of only eight Slow Food Farms in the United States. The farm serves as a living classroom where future farmers, agricultural leaders, and natural resource stewards gain hands-on experience. CLBL participates in Slow Food events including the Joyful Dinner Series.
• 1% for the PlanetminorOthersCLBL is a member of 1% for the Planet, committing to donating 1% of annual sales to approved environmental charities.
• City of West SacramentocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Sycamore Trail Community Orchard project, supporting tree planting and community greening efforts in West Sacramento.
• UC Davis SCOPE ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent Collaborative Organic Plant Breeding Education project presented at CLBL Speaker Series, focusing on plant breeding and seed saving for organic farming systems.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association (ALBA): California-based 501(c)(3) that trains beginning, limited-resource, and immigrant farmers through on-farm incubation and education. Directly comparable to CLBL's California Farm Academy and Farm Start programs in mission, geography, and target population.
• Petaluma Bounty: Nonprofit that operates a farm incubator, community food programs, and Mobile Farmers Market in Sonoma County. Closely comparable to CLBL's combination of beginning-farmer support and Community Food Program / Mobile Farmers Market, but at smaller scale.
• Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture: Nonprofit working farm and education center that trains beginning farmers and convenes the food/agriculture community. Comparable to CLBL as a flagship agricultural education site with on-farm programming, though geographically focused on the Northeast.
• Soul Fire Farm Institute: BIPOC-led nonprofit farm offering immersive farmer training, youth programs, and food justice programming. Comparable to CLBL in combining beginning-farmer training with community food access and youth education, though with a stronger social-justice focus.
• National Young Farmers Coalition: National nonprofit advocating for and supporting the next generation of farmers through policy, training, and land access resources. Comparable to CLBL's beginning-farmer pipeline programs, with a broader advocacy and policy footprint.

Emerging players

• Holistic Management International: Nonprofit that trains agricultural producers in holistic land and livestock management practices. Comparable to CLBL's regenerative agriculture and livestock courses, with a smaller and more curriculum-licensed model.

Broad incumbents

• The Rodale Institute: Long-established nonprofit research and education leader in regenerative organic agriculture. Comparable to CLBL's Farm & Climate Program in its focus on carbon farming, soil health research, and farmer training, but operates at significantly larger scale and broader scope.
• UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) / Cooperative Extension: University of California system providing research-based agricultural education, technical assistance, and 4-H youth programming statewide. Overlaps with CLBL's youth education, beginning farmer training, and climate-smart agriculture programming, but as a public-sector incumbent with much broader scope.

Others

• Farmer Veteran Coalition: National nonprofit supporting military veterans in agriculture through grants, training scholarships, and the Homegrown By Heroes label. A direct financial partner of CLBL (provides veteran scholarships) and a peer in the veteran-agricultural training niche.

Regional players

• Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA): Regional nonprofit providing organic farming education, apprenticeships, and an annual common ground fair. Comparable to CLBL as a multi-program agricultural education nonprofit, but focused on Maine and the Northeast rather than California.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LandBasedEd
• Facebookfacebook.com/landbasedlearning

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Center for Land Based Learning