About the program:

After completing this 12-week course, participants will understand how implementing systems and standardized production practices expands a farm's capacity to produce food. They will have the knowledge to grow, harvest, plan, market, and finance an urban farm. 

Applications due by Aug. 23 for Kane County and its surrounding areas.

Designed for:

• Anyone with 2 or more years growing food.
• Entrepreneurs who want to start an intensive urban produce farm.
• Community members who want to develop their skill set to increase food security and/or establish a community food system project in their neighborhood.
• Master Gardeners interested in intensifying their food production skills.
• Educators who want to bring production knowledge back to their organization.
• Growers interested in more intensive training programs, but not sure if they want to commit the time or money.

Course Structure:

• Live Zoom lectures once a week.
• In-person field days (optional) in Kane County.
• Weekly homework is graded as complete/incomplete.
• Dedication to course materials outside of class is expected.

Instructors:

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

Schedule: 

The program runs for 12 weeks September 23 - December 9, 2024. It is delivered virtually from 6 to 8 p.m. on Mondays with a field day scheduled for Saturday September 28, 2024. Cost is $25. The course fee for Kane County residents has been significantly reduced thanks to a grant from the USDA’s Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production.

Topics include:

• Business plan basics
• Compost and media-based growing systems
• Community development
• Composting
• Cover crops
• Designing a vision & mission
• Emerging specialty crops
• Farm finances
• Farm law basics
• Food safety
• Grants & funding
• Harvest and post-harvest handling
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
• Introduction to urban agriculture
• Irrigation
• Marketing
• Planning and record keeping
• Tools and equipment
• Transplant production
• Season extension
• Site selection
• Small farm
• Urban soils
• Weed management