The answers to these questions vary and can be very context dependent. Farmwork is arduous and requires access to many resources and skill sets. Farmers are entrepreneurs, business managers, producers, marketers, and more. A farmer’s journey into farmwork or into running their own farm may look different from person to person. Some farmers grew up on farms, some are starting a second job or career, some are new Americans. Below is some information to help you identify if farming might be a good fit for you and how to get started.
Is Urban Farming Right for Me?
Farming can be an all encompassing job- you must be attentive to the needs of your farm at all hours of the day and must be able to respond in times of crisis. While farming can be beautiful and rewarding, it can also be very demanding and exhausting. For those who may not be cut out to be a farmer, there are many opportunities to get involved in farm work or within the food system. The Cornell Small Farms program offers a multiplicity of resources and courses for all types of farmers.
The best way to introduce yourself to farming is to try it. Many farmers seek out seasonal or part-time workers which can be paid or done as a trade for a share of whatever they’re growing on their farm. There are also plenty of volunteer opportunities. As a more formal option, you may be interested in seeking out an apprenticeship or internship, many of which can be found with a simple internet search. Finally, you may be interested in working with an incubator farm before going all-in with starting your own farm business.
Below is a list of resources for how to get started:
Urban Farming Training Programs
- Just Food Farm School NYC in New York City
Two-year certificate program and individual advanced courses on a variety of subjects. - Brooklyn Urban Growers (BUGS) Brooklyn-based urban training program
- NYBG Horticulture Certificate Program NYC-based certificate programs offered to cover a variety of horticultural topics
- Cornell Master Gardener Program Cornell’s program is offered statewide at local county offices.
- NYS Seed to Supper A comprehensive beginning gardening curriculum designed for adults gardening on a budget. Available across NYS.
- The Radix Ecological Sustainability Center Regenerative Urban Sustainability Training (RUST) in Albany Weekend-long intensive workshop consisted of lectures and hands-on demonstrations on various urban farming subjects.
Beginning Farmer Training Programs
A wealth of workshops and new farmer training programs exist throughout the State. Though most of these programs are not urban farming specific, many components are quite applicable to an urban farm.
- CRAFT: The Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training program is prevalent throughout NYS.
- NOFA- NY hosts workshops and farm field days across NYS for new-experienced farmers.
- Cornell Small Farms offers an array of online courses for new and beginning farmers.
- Groundswell Center for Local Food & Farming offers a 10-week in-person farm businesses course and opportunities at an incubator farm outside Ithaca, NY.
- New York Botanical Gardens offers workshops and certificate programs in landscape design, botany, horticulture and gardening.
- Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture offers both unpaid farm internships and longer-term apprenticeships for aspiring farmers as well as hosts the annual Young Farmers Conference in November.
- Hawthorne Valley Beginning Farmers Program offers field days and mentoring programs.
- Calypso Farm and Ecology Center runs a comprehensive, 5-month Farmer Training Program focused on providing the skills training and experience necessary for beginning farmers to go on to start their own economically successful small farm.
Urban Farm Apprenticeships and Internships
- Earth Matter Compost and Farm Apprenticeship Program in NYC
- Urban Farm’s Produce Project Farm Apprenticeship Program in Troy NY
Organizational Workshops, Classes, and Events
Several urban farming or related organizations offer workshops, classes, and events to help educate and support urban farmers. See the Appendix for more information and for organization contact information, or check individual organization websites and event calendars.
Find a listing of Cornell Cooperative Extension offices across New York State here.
When am I an Urban Farm?
Interest is currently growing within the realm of urban agriculture as many local governments, nonprofit organizations, small businesses, and neighbors launching their own agricultural ventures or getting involved in one. Those in the urban agriculture space are often involved due to personal goals and values: to improve their own health, to improve food access in their neighborhoods, and/or to stimulate the local economy. Urban agriculture generally refers to “the cultivation, processing, and distribution of agricultural products in urban or suburban areas.” (USDA). More specific definitions vary across cities and communities, and may be further defined according to local population density, land use, or overall profit of the urban farm. If you are unsure whether your farm operation qualifies as an urban farm, research your local policies surrounding urban agriculture. You can determine whether you are located in an urban area, which total over 60, by consulting the Atlas of Urban Areas in New York State. For our intent and purposes, we are utilizing the term “urban agriculture” loosely – urban agriculture may be an option for food production when traditional field beds on a farm are not available in one’s local area.
At the local level, land is appropriated for various uses for either urban development or rural open space preservation. In urban spaces, urban agriculture can take on many forms. The most common include:
- Ground-based outdoor urban gardens and farms
- Hydroponic or other indoor production facilities
- Rooftop gardens and farms
- Landscaping businesses
- Urban livestock farming
While many personal and community urban gardens exist, the number of nonprofit or for-profit urban farms is growing. Those engaging in this work may utilize different terms to describe what they do, therefore terms are used loosely and interchangeably.
