The deadline to apply for the 2026 cohort is February 13th, 2026.

Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application in early March, 2026.

There aren’t specific prerequisites – anyone is welcome to apply, and we have had students from all types of professional and academic backgrounds. That said, the focus of the course is to help people farm professionally, and covers a wide range of topics so that graduates have a strong foundation of knowledge to do so. We have found that students who have some prior experience and/or knowledge of agriculture are better set up for success as they are not starting from scratch, although we have seen success from students who have minimal experience and are willing to put in the time to learn and dive deeply in to all learning opportunities, in and out of class. Regardless, applicants who are serious about committing to class and to farming as a career tend to be more competitive.

After December 19th, 2025, you will click a link from our website to apply using an online form. If applying via the online form will be an obstacle for you and you would like to request a paper version of the application, please email practicum@vivafarms.org or call (360) 969-7191 x4

Viva Farms will not turn anyone away from the program due to lack of funds. More details about tuition, payment plans and scholarships are available in the application.

Viva Farms registration is offered in three tuition tiers that cover the entire 8-month program.

1. Base Tuition – $1,500
2. Community Supporter Tier – $1,500 base tuition plus an additional donation to our scholarship fund, which supports Practicum participants facing financial hardship. Our suggested contribution is $750 (half of our base tuition), but we welcome any donation amount!
3. Scholarship Tier – Full and partial scholarships are available based on financial need. If you are in need of financial assistance, you will have the opportunity to fill out a scholarship application at the time you apply to the Practicum program.  

Viva Farms will not turn anyone away from the program due to lack of funds. Please submit a scholarship application if you are in need of financial assistance.

Viva Farms can also work with students to set up payment installment plans to pay tuition on a quarterly basis. This option is available for any of the tuition fee tiers.

Class in Burlington, Skagit County is taught in English with Spanish interpretation. 

Class in Woodinville, King County is taught in English. 

The Practicum commitments consist of class once a week plus independent work on the student farm.

• Class: 2 hours of in-person instruction on Tuesday evenings from 5:30-7:30pm.
• Independent hours: 16 hours/month.
  • The purpose of the independent hours is for students to practice the skills learned in class, to gain an understanding of the consistency and commitment required by farming, and to participate in the farmwork needed to maintain our parcel and have a successful farming season together. 
  • For students who are working offsite at another farm, the requirement is reduced to 8 hours/month. We understand that these students are practicing skills offsite and demonstrating the seasonal commitment to farming. However, our student parcel is a group project and we require all students to participate in the effort to farm it together.
  • The timing of the independent hours will vary with the farming season. As with any farm, students should anticipate an increase in responsibilities during the peak summer season, from June to September. Independent hours are independent, and can be scheduled and completed around each student’s schedule. Students who want to complete their independent hours during the early mornings, evenings, weekends, or outside of normal business hours should expect to be working on their own, and instructors will be available to plan activities and share any necessary instructions in advance of the student’s arrival. Instructors will also offer times outside of class, during business hours, that they are available to answer questions and share any necessary instructions (“outside office hours”).
  • It is important to remember that the Practicum parcel is part of a working farm. We will be harvesting to order for customers of Viva Farms and must be able to maintain both high quality and consistency. We ask for high commitment and for participants to reliably arrive on time and be ready to work during their scheduled independent hours.
  • Finally, the Practicum is a course with a competitive application process and there is often more demand for the program than spaces. Please be realistic in your capacity to commit to the time requirements for the course and know that there is a waiting list of others that would like to take the course. Students who are not keeping up with their independent hours may not graduate from the course.