Other Ag News: The Promise of Urban Agriculture: New Courses for Growers and Planners

Building a successful commercial urban farm requires careful consideration of unique issues created by farming in the urban environment.

The Cornell Small Farms Program’s Urban Ag project has partnered with USDA-AMS Marketing Services Division and Rooted, the Madison, WI-based center for urban agriculture enterprise and education, to collaborate and develop classes for commercial urban agriculturists, city planners, and policymakers.

The project is informed by our publication, The Promise of Urban Agriculture, a national study of commercial farming in urban areas released in 2019. The following year we began to create trainings and educational resources for multiple audiences engaged in urban agriculture and, specifically, commercial urban agriculture.

“Realizing the Promise of Urban Agriculture sits squarely within the Cornell Small Farms Program’s mission to turn research into meaningful educational opportunities that promote equitable participation in farming in New York State and beyond,” said Anu Rangarajan, director of the Cornell Small Farms Program. “This research and now curriculum illuminate the value of commercial urban agriculture, and will help grow urban farms’ potential to be commercially viable and economically self-sufficient, while offering a multitude of quality of life benefits for community residents.”

This curriculum development draws on the evolution of 14 urban farms, and insights from over 150 policymakers, urban planners, funders, and nonprofit and community organizers engaged in local food systems and urban farming. Through this work we uncovered the policies, resources, and future research and development needed to support the successful development of commercial urban farms.

“The Promise of Urban Agriculture courses offer a holistic approach to both social and operational factors that impact urban farming,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt. “Through these courses, small businesses and farmers will be equipped with a greater understanding of the economic, managerial, and financial nuances of urban farm viability.”
We are excited to bring this suite of urban agriculture courses to farmers, planners and policymakers, to provide critical information for building or supporting successful urban farms.

PUA 101: Deciding Where to Farm in the City reviews how to create a commercial urban farm with community in mind. Other topics include urban land access and tenure, and regulations that impact urban farming.

PUA 102: Urban Farm Planning and Management covers factors that contribute to an economically viable urban farm, including choosing a business model, knowing when to expand the farm, crop planning, analyzing markets, managing on-farm labor, and promoting a strong farm culture.

PUA 103: Urban Farming by Community Nonprofits is designed for nonprofit farm staff and members of community organizations that manage urban farms. It goes deeper into the specific concerns of operating an urban farm as a nonprofit.

PUA 201: Urban Agriculture Skills for Planners help planners from any size city or municipality understand how urban agriculture is affected by planning priorities, zoning, comprehensive planning. The course also explores strategies to foster inclusive community engagement, sustainability and equity. The planners course is worth 6 Certification Maintenance (CM) credits through American Planners Association.

“We are excited that Promise of Urban Agriculture courses will activate and spread the wisdom of over 200 urban growers, planners, community advocates, and government officials who contributed to the original research and course development,” said Molly Riordan, an urban agriculture specialist with the project. “They offer tested strategies from the people who’ve implemented them, and we are grateful to all who shared their expertise.”

After participating in these courses, participants will be able to:
• Articulate the physical, economic, and social factors important to building viable urban farms.
• Understand the relevant policy and planning tools that can support or hinder an urban farm.
• Describe the economic opportunities and risks that affect long-term viability and sustainability of urban farms.
• Distinguish when a nonprofit business structure can be more effective in meeting social goals for urban farming than a for-profit model.

Each course is designed as a standalone learning experience with unique video content and materials. Our introductory enrollment offer allows free access to these courses until January 31, 2025.
Learn more and enroll today on our Teachable online school.

The post The Promise of Urban Agriculture: New Courses for Growers and Planners appeared first on Cornell Small Farms.