The Dean Organic Fund Application Form and Process
Applicants are encouraged to carefully read the Information for Applicants form as part of any application for a DOF loan. All applications must be submitted via the Application Form and process detailed below. Please complete the enquiry form via the website should you have any specific queries relating to this process. Please note that support with applications will be limited to clarification of details and information required. The DOF Committee is not able to prepare applications or offer business guidance as part of the process.
Suggested Reading & Resources
The below are suggested reading and resources to help applicants provide the business information required as part of the application.
The Organic Vegetable Grower is a practical guide for those growing, or wishing to grow, market, and sell organic vegetables for a living. The book is rooted in organic principles and covers:
• Getting on the land – gaining the skills and setting up
• How to maximise diversity and productivity at a range of scales
• A crop-by-crop guide to the basics of growing quality produce
• Selling and marketing your produce
• The human element – managing staff, complexity, and avoiding burnout
We work with clients to design land use plans, through to detailed cropping / livestock plans and business plans. We aim to work alongside you to find the balance in working with the land for food production, economic viability, and potential business diversification strategies. Our whole system approach helps you to work with the natural resources on your land and how to farm with nature rather than against nature.
If you are a farmer, grower, or landowner, or you are part of a network of farmers who may be interested in FREE design or business consultancy for your farmland, please get in touch.
The Organic Farm Management Handbook is the only source of information on the costs and performance of organic farming.
One of the key barriers is the lack of current information on the costs and business performance of organic farms and related management issues that is vital to anyone contemplating the seismic shift to organic farming. The revised OFMH will provide that information – utilising in-depth historical data and expert opinion.
It is the essential tool for understanding the economics of organic farming in the UK. It can:
- Help with business plans and budgets
- Provide a means of assessing the viability of
specific crops and livestock - Advise on conversion related innovations such
as new marketing approaches.
The Landworks Alliance work to support people in establishing, improving and expanding their farming and land-based enterprises. They also work to assist farmers, growers and land-based workers who are looking to make the transition towards agroecological farming systems and re-orient their sales and marketing towards short supply chain models.
The Landworks Alliance has put together online resources in the form of Business Support Guides to provide information and advice around fundraising, business planning, and setting up direct sales and short supply chains.
Application Documents
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