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Master Urban Farmer Training Program

Title
A program for aspiring urban farmers

Mission

After completing this course, participants will understand how implementing systems and standardized production practices expands a farm's capacity to produce food. Participants will understand how implementing systems and standardized production practices expands a farm's capacity to produce food.

We recommend you have at least two years experience growing food prior to attending this program. If you are seeking beginning growing information like how to grow a tomato in a container, please consider one of our other trainings. Some good places to get started with basic growing information include our
 online Horticulture resources 
Vegetable Gardening in the Midwest and our online 
Successful School and Community Garden webinar series. You may also be interested in our 
Master Gardener Training. or other urban agriculture programs offered by our 
Local Food Systems and Small Farms team.

Who should attend?

Entrepreneurs  with two years farming experience who want to start or improve an intensive urban produce farm.

Growers interested in more intensive training programs, but not sure if they want to commit the time or the money.

Community food system leaders who want to refine their food production skill set in order to increase food security and/or develop a community food system project in their neighborhood.

Educators who want to bring food production systems knowledge back to their organization.

How is the course structured?

  • Live Zoom lectures once a week. Attendance at and participation in these lectures is expected.
  • Optional in-person field day(s) at SoSuCo, our demonstration and research farm in Matteson.
  • Required weekly homework assignments/quizzes are graded as complete/incomplete.
  • Dedication to course materials outside of class time is expected.

     

Who are the instructors?

Extension Educators Zack Grant and Kathryn Pereira are the primary instructors with guest lectures from regional and local topic experts. Local practicing urban farmers will share their real-world experiences and lessons learned following some lectures.

What topics are covered?*

  • Annual Vegetable Crop Planning, Recordkeeping and Evaluation
  • Urban Soils, Compost and Imported Growing Media
  • Community development using urban agriculture
  • Cover crops
  • Designing a vision and mission
  • Business Planning Basics
  • Farm finances for beginning farmers
  • Developing a Fertility Plan for the Urban Farm
  • Food safety
  • Grants and Funding Sources
  • Harvest and post-harvest handling
  • Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
  • Protected Culture: Greenhouses, High Tunnels, Low Tunnels and Transplants
  • Irrigation Systems
  • Crop and Market Decision Making
  • Tools and equipment
  • Transplant production
  • Season extension and protected culture growing
  • Site selection
  • Small farm marketing
  • Business Structures and Risk
  • Weed management

*Note: All topics may not be covered in depth every session. We do not cover aqua culture or hydroponics. 

Program Returns Fall 2027

The Master Urban Farmer Training Program will not be offered this Fall 2026 while our team takes time to refine our curriculum and delivery methods to best meet the demand for this program, the needs of our stakeholders, and comply with federal accessibility mandates. 
We anticipate offering an improved program in Fall 2027. 

Please join us this Summer for our Field Day Series, and be on the lookout for topic specific workshops this winter. 

Thank you for your understanding. Questions may be directed to program coordinator Sarah Batka at 217-300-8636 or sbatka@illinois.edu

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