Feb 22, 2022

Sustainable Urban Agriculture Certificate Program offered in Virginia

To help meet the growing demand for academically trained urban agriculture professionals, Virginia State University’s College of Agriculture is offering its fourth Sustainable Urban Agriculture Certificate Program this spring.

Designed for anyone charged with starting or managing an urban farm or who wants to increase their marketability to do so, the course provides a curriculum rich in the science-based knowledge needed to successfully and safely grow produce in an urban environment.

Courses include: sustainable soil management, plant propagation and nursery management, permaculture, plant disease and pest management, greenhouse production (hydroponics and aquaponics), animal husbandry (backyard chickens and rabbits), urban farming business planning and management, and many more. All courses will be taught by Virginia State University (VSU), and Virginia Tech professors and other invited guests

This spring the course will be offered as Face-to-Face and will be limited to 25 participants. All participants are required to attend the March 5, 2022 orientation from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Classes will be held at the Virginia State University’s Randolph Farm pavilion, located on 4415 River Road, Petersburg, Virginia 23803.

Register here.

Some Course Topics Include:

• General Principles of Urban Agriculture

• Basic Botany, Physiology, and Environmental Effects of Plant Growth

• Crop Pest and Disease Management

• Business Principles of Agriculture

• Permaculture; Vegetable and Small Fruit Production

• Brownfields and Safe Gardening Practices

• Greenhouse Production-Aquaponics/Hydroponics

• Plant Propagation and Nursery Management

• Backyard Rearing

Instruction are provided by Virginia State University and Virginia Tech Faculty, Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agents and featured guest speakers.

This program is supported in part by the USDA/NIFA grant # 2015-38821-24339 Entitled “From Food Deserts to Agrihoods: Transforming Food Insecure Neighborhoods with Comprehensive Urban Agriculture Education” and USDA/NIFA grant # 2018-38821-27760 Entitled “Enhancing the Capacity of Virginia State University to Expand Urban Agriculture Education through the Distance Learning Approach.”

If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact the Agriculture and Natural Resources office at (804)524-5960/TDD (800)828-1120 during business hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) to discuss accommodations five days prior to the event.

To complete the course, you must attend all classes. If you are unable to complete the course you will be dismissed from the program. There is no refund of the registration fees.