FARMINGTON – Building a farm business in a somewhat isolated area in Avon takes time, perseverance and persistence, said Kathy Trodden of Second Chance Farm and Longfellows Creamery.

Trodden, along with Amy LeBlanc of Whitehill Farm in East Wilton, will share their experiences during a workshop titled Essentials of Business Planning For Small Farms from 2 to 5 p.m. on Monday, April 7, at the Western Mountain Alliance in Church Street Commons.

The workshop is for owners of any size farm or those who are thinking about developing a value-added farm product. They should find it a great way to learn what to plan and what to avoid, Kathleen Beauregard from the Alliance said Friday.

A value-added product is when a raw farm product is enhanced in some way and adds value, she said, such as turning blackberries into preserves or drying fruits and vegetables for snacks.

When Trodden and her husband, Liam, started farming in 2001, she had to figure everything out for herself, she said.

“I flew by the seat of my pants,” she said. That despite the fact that this has been a better time to start with so much interest in local foods and grass-fed meat-producing animals. She lucked out in the timing, she added.

Pursuing something different in their lives and her husband’s desire to again live on a farm as he did as a child in Ireland, Trodden said the business fit her personality and skills after working as a caterer for many years. She was comfortable with food science and preparation, she said.

LeBlanc, of Whitehill Farm, comes from a different experience.

“What I take to market is the fruit of my trials. My garden is not a market garden but a family garden where I try new varieties and add them to my catalog,” LeBlanc said.

The items, mainly extra tomatoes, peppers and culinary herbs, are available along with apple cider vinegar.

After tiring of roma tomatoes about 20 years ago, LeBlanc decided to find something bigger and tastier, she said. She started planting seedlings and giving them to friends who told her they would be willing to buy them. So began her business, which has seen a steady growth, she said.

She looks to fill the niche at the markets, items that someone else isn’t selling. From her culinary herbs, she creates her own pesto and Italian salad dressing.

“You learn as you grow. You find little things and realize I can grow that, and it will make my display at market look better,” she said.

Three other presenters at the workshop are from nonprofit organizations that will share resources to help small farm businesses with technical issues or access to grants, Beauregard said.

There is an $18 charge. To register for the workshop, call the Western Mountains Alliance before April 4 at 778-3885 or e-mail: [email protected]