The First in a Four Part Series
Meets online via Zoom: 6 to 8 pm on Mondays

Feb 17: Begin Planning Your Urban Farm

This session will cover the first steps you should take when planning an urban farm. You’ll learn the why and the how of designing vision and mission statements and of business planning. The principles apply whether you are planning a commercial farm, a non-profit farm, or a large community garden. 

This session will highlight the basics of urban vs. native soils, soil quality and organic matter. You will learn the importance of soil management and its effects on vegetable production methods. 
 

This session will outline the considerations needed when evaluating a new or existing site for urban agriculture.  How to use tools like Google Earth and Web Soil Survey to assess your site, and spreadsheets to plan your production schedule and harvest forecast. 
 

Mar 10:  Finding and Planning for Your Start-up Funds 
This session will cover how to make a realistic start up budget and how to find and write small grants to cover some of your costs. 

For Questions or If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact Sarah Batka at 217-300-8636 or sbatka@illinois.edu
Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time for meeting your access needs