Urban Farming

Learn Urban Farming

Lesson Structure

There are 8 lessons in this course:

1. Scope & Nature of Urban Farming
   • 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 and 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
   • 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 and 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. Project (PBL)– 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.