Certificate Program in Regenerative Agriculture

Common Good City Farm offers training and certification in Regenerative Urban Agriculture. In 2024, we are offering 2 cohorts, one on Sunday from 1 - 4 pm and one on Saturday 10 am - 1 pm. Each cohort will have 15 students for 30 students total. This program is available at no cost to all students who are selected for this program.

The program will run once a week starting in mid-March and running until October, with breaks for holidays noted on the schedule below. Participants will gain the awareness and skills needed to successfully manage land for small-scale crop production using organic, regenerative and climate responsive techniques. Topics covered will include how to plan crops and keep records, propagation and planting techniques, irrigation types and installation, how to manage pests in an integrated system, best harvest practices, composting and more. Participants will have the opportunity to complete two levels over the course of 7 months. Certificates are part of a series whereby successful completion of each level is required to move on to the following.

To learn more about students’ experience in the program, read this blog post about some of the projects students worked on for the management specialization in 2022.

In order to participate in this program, you must agree to follow our COVID-19 policy as well as our Code of Conduct.

Timeline

For the Timeline section: 2024 deadline is February 9, 2024. Notification of Status: Feb 16

Saturday start: March 16, 2024

Saturday end: October 12, 2024

Sunday Start: March 10, 2024

Sunday End: October 6, 2024

Level 1

Introduction to Regenerative Urban Agriculture

Level one participants will focus on regenerative techniques and practices used in small-scale vegetable production to help mitigate climate change. Students will have the opportunity to participate in interactive field trips, attend specialty workshops, and observe guest speakers.

Successful completion of Level 1 is required to continue on to Level 2.

Level 2

Independent Projects

Participants will continue cultivating the awareness and skills acquired in the first 18 sessions while also choosing a management area to specialize in. Areas of study may include water management (irrigation and erosion control), nutrient management, IPM, compost management and more. Students may work independently or in groups to design/ execute a project in their chosen area of study. Projects could be designing an erosion control plan, designing/ building a new compost system and more.

Cohort 1 will meet from Sunday, March 10 - Sunday October 6 and Cohort 2 will meet from Saturday, March 16 - Saturday, October 13.

Cohort 1

Saturday course dates:

  • March 16

  • March  23

No Class March 30

  • April 6

  • April 13

  • April 20

  • April 27

  • May 4

No Class May 11

  • May 18

No Class May 25

  • June 1

  • June 8: 

No Class June 15

  • June 22

  • June 29

  • July 6

  • July 13

  • July 20

  • July 27

  • August 3

  • August 10

2024 Saturday Project Dates

  • August 17

  • August 24

Skip August 29: Labor Day

  • September 7 

  • September 14 

  • September 21

  • September 28

  • October 5

  • October 12

Irrigation & Drip pipe assembling

Broadforking & Bed prep

Growing in the hoop house

Cohort 2 

2024 Sunday Course Dates:

Sunday March 10

  • March 17 

  • March 24

Skip March 31: Easter

  • April 7

  • April 14

  • April 21 

  • April 28 

  • May 5th

Harvesting collards

Skip May 12: Mother’s Day

  • May 19 

Skip May 26: Memorial Day

  • June 2

  • June 9 

Skip June 16: Father’s Day/Juneteenth Weekend

  • June 23 

  • June 30

  • July 7 

  • July 14

  • July 21 

  • July 28 

  • Aug 4 

2024 Sunday Project Dates/Level 2

  • August 11

  • August 18

  • August 25 

Skip September 1: Labor Day

  • September 8 

  • September 15 

  • September 22

  • September 29

  • October 6