Allan and Christine Green have a small farm in Orange County where they raise grass-fed cattle, hogs, goats, sheep, chickens and other animals.

When the couple decided to try their hand at vegetable and crop farming, instead of tilling a piece of their own property they set out for a plot of land in the northern reaches of the county.

The Greens were among the inaugural students in the PLANT@Breeze program, a class offered by the Orange County Cooperative Extension and the Orange County Economic Development Commission for anyone interested in finding out how to grow and market vegetables.

The county hopes to use the program to cultivate a new crop of farmers at a time when many family farms flounder in a fast-evolving economy.

The program, funded with student and rental fees and $10,000 from the county, also is designed to help some of those struggling farmers diversify.

"The whole point here is to give people an opportunity to experiment with farming," said Carl Matyac, a county extension agent.

A new class begins on Jan. 7.

During the first eight weeks, speakers with real-life experience lay out the highlights and pitfalls of living off the land.

Then the students move out to new learning ground, the 270-acre farm that Col. William Breeze and his family donated to N.C. State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

The Greens plunked down the nominal rent to lease a quarter-acre at the Breeze farm, and they say the experience has been worth every cent of their investment.

The Greens raise corn, tomatoes, greens and other fresh produce, relying on help from county extension agents to put in an irrigation system and the necessary fencing to keep hungry deer away.

The couple learned about crop rotation, insect threats and seasonal planting.

"The reason we did it was because of the supervision and input we would get," Green said. "Without them I wouldn't have known that you shouldn't plant tomatoes and peppers in the same place. They're related and diseases from one could spread to the other."

The couple took what they raised, hauled it back to their farm near the intersection of Dairyland and Orange Grove roads and proudly sold their produce in a stand.

Some of the others in the program took their produce to local farmer markets.

Allan Green estimates that he and his wife raised about $2,000 worth of produce. They saved some for themselves.

"This is, as far as I'm concerned, one of the governmental success stories," Green said.

In Orange County, the number of dairy and cattle farms are declining and the number of farmers has dwindled to about 550.

Karen McAdams, a county extension agent, said as those farms disappear she hears more talk about wanting to preserve the rural expanses that are left.

"Basically, people over the years have grown to appreciate the quality of life of having open spaces, green spaces," said McAdams.

Besides enhancing vistas, new markets are developing for locally grown produce and livestock.

"There are a lot of reasons to have farms," McAdams said. "We all need to eat. No farms. No food. You've seen the bumper stickers."

anne.blythe@newsobserver.com or 919-932-8741

WANT TO TRY FARMING?

WHAT: The People Learning Agriculture Now for Tomorrow program, a farm enterprise incubator for the Piedmont Region, begins its second season in January. The series will introduce apprentice farmers to the basic how-to's of small scale, sustainable vegetable and fruit production. Sessions will include whole farm planning, marketing, pests, diseases & weeds, planting & harvesting, soils, fertility & crop rotations, building your business plan, recordkeeping and integrating livestock into your farm.

WHEN: Wednesdays, from 6 to 9 p.m., during the months of January and February.

WHERE: The Cooperative Extension Food Lab, 306 Revere Rd., in Hillsborough.

COST: $100 for the full series, $15 for individual sessions.

INFORMATION: www.orangecountyfarms.org or call 245-2050 or 245-2330.