Overview

Farm School NYC offers a two-year certificate program in Urban Agriculture as well as a wide range of short courses open for individual course enrollment. Our courses are taught by experts in the field and focus on a wide range of topics from social justice issues, to urban planting techniques, to grassroots community organizing. Through engaging, place-based education, Farm School classes offer comprehensive professional training in urban agriculture and cultivate future leaders in NYC's food justice movement.

How do I take classes at Farm School NYC?

There are two ways to take classes at Farm School; through the Certificate in Urban Agriculture Program or through Individual Course Enrollment. See below for more information on both of these options as well as for more details on Farm School operations at large. And please visit Applying and Fees for more information on how to become a farm school student.

Certificate in Urban Agriculture Program

Offering comprehensive professional training in all aspects of Urban Agriculture, our certificate program consists of four main parts*:

• Part 1: 15 core courses to provide a foundation in urban agriculture and food justice
• Part 2: advanced coursework in a chosen areas of focus 
• Part 3: an apprenticeship in your chosen focus area
• Part 4: 40 volunteer hours (completed in first 2 years)

*Certificate students may take up to 5 years to complete all three parts.

Volunteer component

Farm School NYC aims to create a dynamic, community-based environment. In order to build Farm School NYC into a strong, community-based learning center, we ask our Certificate students to complete 40 hours of volunteer work over the first year-and-a-half of study. This volunteer component is designed to enhance the viability of the school; tasks will be designed to strengthen the school and to fit the student’s schedule.

Individual Course Enrollment

Individual Course Enrollment is intended for students interested in learning about a specific subject (i.e. pest management, food justice, botany, etc.).  These courses are short term and are thus also ideal for students not interested in making the two year commitment to the certificate program. Please see below for more information on class logistics and please visit the Course Offerings page for more information on courses available for individual enrollment. Applications for individual course enrollment are processed on a seasonal basis. Our next round of applications (applications for Winter season courses) will be available beginning October 15. Please visit our Applying and Fees page for more information on how to apply.

Where and when do Farm School NYC classes happen?

Because each of Farm School's courses require unique sites and time commitments, the length and meeting time and place of courses varies with the curriculum. Below, though, are some general program logistics, all of which may vary with different courses.

Course lengths and times

Farm School NYC core courses range from two to five  weeks. A typical week consists of seven hours – a three-hour weeknight class (usually Wednesday) and a four-hour weekend class (usually Saturday). On occasion, one-week courses will consist of one day-long training on a weekend.

Advanced courses are six weeks long and are held on Monday evenings. Classes are three hours long.

Course locations

Courses will take place in a variety of locations across the city, including community gardens, urban farms, NY botanical gardens, and indoor classrooms in various locations. Please visit our Classrooms page to see pictures and more information about our unique course locations.

What is the size of Farm School NYC classes?

Courses are capped at twenty-four students in order to foster personal engagement between students and teachers and to be sure that each student's individual needs may be met by Farm School.