Learn urban and city farming

Discover the options and how to optimise farm viability on a small suburban or city property.

COURSE CONTENTS

This course is spread across 8 lessons as follows:

1.  Scope & Nature of Urban Farming

• Introduction - Why this matters 
• What is Urban Farming
• Who is an urban farmer? 
• Motivating Concerns: Environmental, Food Security and Waste, Sustainability, 
• Motivating Benefits: Profitability, Nutrition and Opportunities
• Urban Farm Concepts 
• Further Factors in Concept Planning (Organics and Security) 
• Diversification of Urban Farming 
• Example 1 Plant and Animal Tissue Culture
• Example 2 Urban Foraging
  
  

2. What & Where to Farm

• Choose wisely 
• What to Farm? 
• Geographic location 
• Local climate
• Available space 
• Infrastructure Access 
• Community/Social Demographics 
• Restrictions on What Can be Farmed 
• Permits/Licences
• Farming Animals 
• Farming Plants 
• Time to Harvest 
• Where to Farm? 
• Evaluating Sites 
• Indoor Sites: Factories, Warehouses, Greenhouses, Vacant Buildings 
• Outdoor Site: Rooftops, Parks, Community Gardens, Urban Land 
• Space Considerations
  
  

3. Urban Farming Technologies

• Introduction
• Urban Farm Technologies 
• Protected Environments
• Growth Cabinets
• Cloches, Greenhouses and Florida Rooms 
• Hydroponics
• Aquaponics 
• Aquaculture
• Vertical Farming 
• Multi-storey Farming
• Diversified Production Systems
• Single Product Production Systems 
• Emerging Technologies 
• IoT, Automation, AI, Robotics, Blockchain, Nanotech
  
  

4. Starting Up & Managing an Urban Farm

• Introduction
• Initial Considerations
• Assessing Risks
• Potential Risks
• Legal Considerations 
• Safe Waste Disposal 
• Forecasting and Preparation 
• Analysing Costs and Benefits 
• Acquisitions and Launching 
• Acquire the Site
• Property Setup and Staff Training
• Launching the Business
• Growing the Business
  
  

5. Animal Farming Systems

• Changing Farms 
• Intensive Animal Farming 
• Challenges of Urban Farming 
• The Physical Environment
• Ethics
• Services and Resources Access 
• Biosecurity and Health
• Security of Animals 
• Animal Production Systems
• Free Range, High Density and Bottomless Pens 
• How to Increase Productivity
• Pasture Intensification, Livestock Selection, Animal Feed 
• Choosing High Value Farm Activities 
• Integration of Urban Farming into Town Planning 
• Case Studies: Aquaculture, Poultry and Dairy Farms 
  
  

6. Plant Farming Systems

• Introduction to Plant Farming
• Challenges of Urban Plant Farming 
• The Physical Environment 
• Services and Resources Access 
• Biosecurity & Health
• In-Ground Growing 
• Containers 
• Soil Improvement 
• Roof-top Growing Systems
• Adaptations for Indoor Systems 
• Vertical Growing Systems
• Soil-less Crop Production Systems 
• Vertical Farming 
• Aeroponics
• Propagation Techniques
• Harvesting Techniques
• How to Increase Productivity
• Storage of Produce Pre-market
  
  

7. Value Adding

• Model of Business for Viability 
• Retail Services 
• Selling to Restaurants 
• Growing More in Small Spaces 
• Farmers Markets 
• Farm Tourism & Education Services 
• Marketing at Events
• Volunteers, Grants and Skills Training
• Preserving & Processing Produce 
• Producing Animal Feed
• Manufacturing Produce and Other Goods
  
  

8. Problem-Based Learning Project – Planning an Urban Farm 

• Plan establishment or ongoing improved operation of an urban farm.

Aims: 

• Discuss what urban farming is and types of urban farmer.
• Determine the options and requirements for viable urban farming.
• Distinguish technologies used to grow plants or animals in urban farming.
• Examine the processes undertaken when establishing an urban farming initiative. 
• Describe general operations of different animal farming systems.
• Describe general operations of different plant farming systems.
• Develop added value to increase the economic viability of an urban farm.
• Plan for the establishment or ongoing improved operation of an urban farm.