School for Urban Agriculture
Visit the School for Urban Agriculture website
THE DETAILS
Learn production and business practices of urban and peri-urban farming: land access, resource management, annual and perennial cropping systems, animal agriculture, and business management, with an emphasis on food justice and social equity. Information: https://www.school4urbanag.org/ or email martin@rootedwi.org
About the School for Urban Agriculture
The School for Urban Agriculture (SUA) fills a growing need for specialized training in urban farming and community leadership. A joint effort of the UW-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and its community partner organization, Rooted, SUA accommodates students with a range of experiences and interests, from farmers seeking specialized training in urban agriculture, to undergraduates working toward careers in community food systems, to passionate community gardeners looking to scale up their production.
Students will learn basic concepts of urban food production, distribution and marketing, post-harvest processing and storage, soil health remediation, food policy and more – all through the lens of social and racial equity. In addition to on-campus UW-Madison resources, SUA utilizes Rooted’s Troy and Badger Rock Farms in Madison.
Why Urban Farms?
Urban farms within cities, small towns, suburbs, and the urban/rural fringe use creative approaches to intensively produce food in smaller spaces than those used for traditional agriculture. These farms not only provide fresh, nutritious food for local consumers through sustainable farming practices, they also benefit urban communities by greening the environment, and by revitalizing neighborhoods as local businesses.
Training in urban agriculture is preparation for a wide range of careers and service opportunities, including farming; creating entrepreneurial food businesses; working for nonprofit organizations, nurseries and greenhouses; horticultural therapy; school gardens and environmental education; and even the Peace Corps.
The School for Urban Agriculture (www.school4urbanag.org) is a collaborative effort of the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems, Rooted, and the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute. For more information, contact Martin Bailkey, martin@rootedwi.org.
This project is supported by the United States Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA Award 2018-70003-28118: Farming the City: Building a Competent and Diverse Workforce for Urban Agriculture.