Learn to establish and operate a viable farm in city or urban areas.
Explore what to produce and how to produce it, growing livestock or crops in urban situations.
Lesson Structure
There are 8 lessons in this course:
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Scope and Nature of Urban Farming
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Introduction - Why this matters
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What is Urban Farming
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Who is an urban farmer?
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Motivating Concerns: Environmental, Food Security and Waste, Sustainability,
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Motivating Benefits: Profitability, Nutrition and Opportunities
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Urban Farm Concepts
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Further Factors in Concept Planning (Organics and Security)
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Diversification of Urban Farming
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Example 1 Plant and Animal Tissue Culture
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Example 2 Urban Foraging
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What and Where to Farm
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Choose wisely
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What to Farm?
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Geographic location
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Local climate
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Available space
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Infrastructure Access
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Community/Social Demographics
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Restrictions on What Can be Farmed
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Permits/Licences
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Farming Animals
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Farming Plants
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Time to Harvest
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Where to Farm?
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Evaluating Sites
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Indoor Sites: Factories, Warehouses, Greenhouses, Vacant Buildings
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Outdoor Site: Rooftops, Parks, Community Gardens, Urban Land
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Space Considerations
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Urban Farming Technologies
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Introduction
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Urban Farm Technologies
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Protected Environments
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Growth Cabinets
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Cloches, Greenhouses and Florida Rooms
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Hydroponics
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Aquaponics
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Aquaculture
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Vertical Farming
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Multi-storey Farming
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Diversified Production Systems
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Single Product Production Systems
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Emerging Technologies
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IoT, Automation, AI, Robotics, Blockchain, Nanotech
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Starting Up & Managing an Urban Farm
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Introduction
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Initial Considerations
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Assessing Risks
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Potential Risks
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Legal Considerations
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Safe Waste Disposal
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Forecasting and Preparation
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Analysing Costs and Benefits
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Acquisitions and Launching
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Acquire the Site
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Property Setup and Staff Training
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Launching the Business
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Growing the Business
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Animal Farming Systems
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Changing Farms
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Intensive Animal Farming
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Challenges of Urban Farming
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The Physical Environment
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Ethics
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Services and Resources Access
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Biosecurity and Health
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Security of Animals
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Animal Production Systems
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Free Range, High Density and Bottomless Pens
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How to Increase Productivity
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Pasture Intensification, Livestock Selection, Animal Feed
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Choosing High Value Farm Activities
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Integration of Urban Farming into Town Planning
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Case Studies: Aquaculture, Poultry and Dairy Farms
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Plant Farming Systems
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Introduction to Plant Farming
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Challenges of Urban Plant Farming
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The Physical Environment
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Services and Resources Access
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Biosecurity & Health
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In-Ground Growing
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Containers
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Soil Improvement
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Roof-top Growing Systems
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Adaptations for Indoor Systems
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Vertical Growing Systems
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Soil-less Crop Production Systems
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Vertical Farming
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Aeroponics
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Propagation Techniques
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Harvesting Techniques
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How to Increase Productivity
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Storage of Produce Pre-market
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Value Adding
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Model of Business for Viability
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Retail Services
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Selling to Restaurants
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Growing More in Small Spaces
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Farmers Markets
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Farm Tourism & Education Services
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Marketing at Events
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Volunteers, Grants and Skills Training
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Preserving & Processing Produce
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Producing Animal Feed
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Manufacturing Produce and Other Goods
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Problem-Based Learning Project – Planning an Urban Farm
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Plan establishment or ongoing improved operation of an urban farm.
Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.
Aims
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Discuss what urban farming is and types of urban farmer.
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Determine the options and requirements for viable urban farming.
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Distinguish technologies used to grow plants or animals in urban farming.
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Examine the processes undertaken when establishing an urban farming initiative.
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Describe general operations of different animal farming systems.
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Describe general operations of different plant farming systems.
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Develop added value to increase the economic viability of an urban farm.
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PBL Plan for the establishment or ongoing improved operation of an urban farm.
Why?
Traditional farming is found usually in rural areas because land is cheaper; but there are other issues that can be problematic when farming away from the cities.
- Services are harder to access in rural areas
- The cost of transporting produce to customer is higher from rural; areas
- When transport takes longer, produce quality can deteriorate
There are other advantages to farming in or close to urban areas, not the least environmental benefits. Farms can increase biodiversity, mitigate the effects of climate change and improve the aesthetic of an area.
What is Possible?
It is surprising how much farm produce can be grown in a small area if you make informed, smart choices about what to grow and how to grow it.
- Growing plants in greenhouses to produce continuous cropping all year round (eg. cut flowers, vegetables, berries, etc)
- Raising high value breeds of animals or plants which give a greater return per square metre than standard breeds (e. Orchids may be a higher value cut flower)
- Making choices that don't require so much space (eg. Quail and bantams need less space than other poultry. Bees may only need the space for a hive. A tissue culture nursery may need a fraction of the space required for a tree nursery)
- Add value to what you produce (eg. A lavender farm can distil oil, and produce lavender crafts; operate a farm shop and run farm tours. With value adding like this, a farm might be viable on as little as quarter to half an acre).
- Grow animals or plants on multi levels (eg. An aquaponic farm growing fish in tanks below vegetables growing above. A mushroom farm grown indoors on multi levels.
- Use unused space - vertical growing on walls, roof gardens growing vegetables, vacant public or private land might be used, even if only temporarily
Getting Started
If you already have a suburban block, you may have all you need to start a small farm in the backyard. Others have started with less. It can be feasible to make a substantial contribution to a household income growing food plants, cut flowers or other produce from home, selling direct too the public or supplying local retailers. The most critical factor in success or failure is to know and understand your options, and make the best choices. This course is designed to help you do just that.
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