START MY FARM 2027

Program Participation Agreement

Red Maple Farm School

Agreement Version: 1.0 | November 2026

1. Purpose of the Program

Start My Farm 2027 is an educational certificate course offered by Red Maple Farm School as part of the 100 Farms Started initiative.

The program is designed to help aspiring farmers develop the practical knowledge, planning skills, connections and confidence needed to establish and operate their own farms.

Participation provides education and mentorship but does not guarantee the successful establishment or profitability of a farming business.

2. Program Inclusions

The program includes:

• A structured 2027 farm-starting plan.
• Practical agricultural education and farm-business planning.
• Educational resources and guidance.
• Mentorship and connections with experienced farmers.
• Opportunities to connect with the Small Scale Farms food network.
• One complimentary year of Resilience Network membership.
• A Red Maple Farm School Certificate of Completion, subject to successful completion of published course requirements.

Specific mentorship arrangements, farm visits, learning activities, schedules and completion requirements must be disclosed to participants before purchase.

3. Program Fee and Enrollment

The program fee is $4,995 CAD, plus applicable taxes.

Where Ontario HST of 13% applies, the total is $5,644.35 CAD.

Full payment is required at enrollment. There is no separate deposit.

Enrollment begins immediately upon successful payment, with initial educational materials, farm-planning resources and onboarding information made available to participants.

Of the total program fee, $500 is allocated to initial educational resources, onboarding and farm-planning services. This amount is included in the $4,995 program fee and is not an additional charge.

4. Certificate of Completion

Participants who successfully fulfill the published course requirements will receive a Red Maple Farm School Certificate of Completion.

The certificate recognizes completion of the educational program. It does not represent government accreditation, professional licensing or authorization to conduct a regulated activity.

A certificate is not guaranteed solely through payment or enrollment.

5. Participant Responsibilities

Participants are responsible for their own decisions concerning land acquisition or leasing, farm development, livestock, equipment, infrastructure, financing, permits, insurance and business operations.

Participants agree to provide accurate information, engage respectfully with instructors and mentors, follow reasonable safety instructions and complete the learning activities required for certification.

Program fees do not include the costs of establishing or operating a farm unless expressly identified as included in the published program description.

6. Mentorship and Farm Visits

Red Maple Farm School will provide the educational and mentorship services described in the confirmed program plan.

Farm visits, where included, may be subject to scheduling, weather, animal welfare requirements, biosecurity protocols and reasonable safety procedures.

Participants must follow instructions when visiting farms or participating in practical activities.

Participants may communicate accessibility or accommodation requirements so reasonable arrangements can be discussed.

7. Independent Farm Operations and No Guarantees

Red Maple Farm School provides educational guidance and mentorship, not a guarantee of business results.

Participation does not guarantee:

• Ownership or access to farmland.
• Financing, grants or investment.
• Business profitability or a particular income.
• Regulatory approvals or permits.
• Sales or purchasing agreements with Small Scale Farms.
• Franchise ownership or future employment.

Any future commercial arrangement must be negotiated separately.

Educational guidance is not a substitute for professional legal, accounting, financial, veterinary or other regulated advice.

8. Resilience Network Membership

One year of Resilience Network membership is included in the program fee.

Membership provides access to the benefits available under the applicable membership offering.

Continuation beyond the complimentary year requires separate authorization. No automatic paid renewal is authorized by this agreement.

9. Cancellation, Withdrawal and Refunds

Immediate Commencement

Participants acknowledge that initial educational services and onboarding begin upon enrollment.

Voluntary Withdrawal

A participant may request withdrawal by providing written notice to Red Maple Farm School.

Where initial educational resources, onboarding or other services have actually been provided, Red Maple Farm School may retain up to $500 of the program fee for those initial services, but only to the extent permitted by applicable law.

This amount is not an unconditional cancellation penalty or non-refundable deposit.

Any further amount retained must be justified under the applicable contractual terms and law, taking into account services delivered and obligations already fulfilled.

Statutory Rights

Nothing in this agreement restricts or removes a participant’s cancellation, refund or other rights under applicable consumer protection legislation.

Where applicable law requires a full refund, including the initial $500 allocation, that refund will be provided.

Beginning the program immediately does not eliminate statutory cancellation rights.

Cancellation by Red Maple Farm School

If Red Maple Farm School cancels the program or cannot deliver its contracted obligations, it will offer an appropriate remedy or refund as required by applicable law.

Submitting a Request

Withdrawal or refund requests should be submitted in writing to Red Maple Farm School using the contact information provided in Section 15.

Refunds will be processed within any applicable statutory deadline.

10. Program Changes

Red Maple Farm School may make reasonable adjustments to instructors, learning resources, delivery methods or scheduling where necessary.

Changes will not materially reduce the services promised at enrollment without an appropriate remedy or the participant’s agreement where required by law.

11. Educational Materials

Course materials, instructional documents, worksheets, recordings and other resources supplied by Red Maple Farm School are intended for the participant’s personal educational and farm-development use.

Participants may use these resources to plan and operate their own farms.

Unless otherwise authorized, participants may not commercially resell, republish or distribute proprietary course materials.

Participants retain ownership of their own farm plans, business ideas and original work.

12. Privacy and Participant Information

Red Maple Farm School will collect and use participant information as reasonably necessary to administer enrollment, deliver education, coordinate mentorship, communicate program information and maintain appropriate participation records.

Personal information will be handled in accordance with applicable Canadian privacy law and the privacy policy identified at enrollment.

Participant information will not be used for unrelated promotional communications without the appropriate consent.

The applicable privacy policy will be made available to participants before enrollment.

13. Respectful Participation

Participants agree to treat instructors, mentors, farm hosts and fellow participants respectfully.

Harassment, threatening behaviour, deliberate property damage or serious disregard of safety requirements may result in appropriate corrective action, including removal from activities where justified.

Any suspension or termination will be handled fairly and consistently with applicable law and contractual obligations.

14. Agreement and Acceptance

Before purchasing, participants must have the opportunity to review this agreement, the program description, applicable fees, course requirements and cancellation terms.

By affirmatively accepting the agreement, the participant acknowledges that they have reviewed and agree to its terms, subject to all applicable statutory rights.

Red Maple Farm School will maintain an appropriate record of acceptance and provide the participant with a retainable copy of the applicable agreement.

Acceptance records should include the participant’s identity, associated Shopify order number, date and time of acceptance, and agreement version.

These records are maintained separately from this public agreement page.

15. Provider Information and Governing Law

Educational provider: Red Maple Farm School

Program: Start My Farm 2027 Certificate Course

Legal contracting entity: Small Scale Farms.

Business address: 13145 Lundy's Lane, Niagara Falls, ON L2E6S4

Contact email: Orders@smallscalefarms.ca

Telephone: 1-844-769-7333

This agreement is governed by the laws of Ontario and applicable federal laws of Canada, without limiting mandatory consumer protection rights.

End of Program Participation Agreement