PUA 102: Urban Farm Planning and Management

Are you interested in commercial farming in the city? Or are you an urban planner or urban agriculture advocate who wants to create better support for urban farms in your city? The courses in this series titled, The Promise of Urban Agriculture are designed to help you understand the practices and policies that support commercial urban farming. We use the term 'commercial' to include any farm that sells products to support some or all of the farm's activities.

This course, "Urban Farm Planning and Management" covers factors that contribute to an economically viable urban farm, including choosing a business model, knowing when to expand the farm, crop planning, analyzing markets, managing on-farm labor, and promoting a strong farm culture.

Target Audience

Aspiring/Beginner – This course is directed at farmers with a few seasons of food production experience in either an urban or rural setting. It assumes participants know how to plant, grow, and harvest a crop and are looking for guidance to make their urban farm a success.

Course Objectives

Upon completing "Urban Farm Planning and Management," you will be able to:

  • Evaluate business models and revenue strategies that apply to for-profit and nonprofit farms
  • Develop a market strategy to maximize profits
  • Create a crop plan that matches your goals
  • Decide when to scale up an enterprise or the entire farm
  • Compare different sources of urban farm labor
  • Create a positive environment for you and others working on the farm

Course Schedule

This course is self-paced and happens on your own time, with videos, readings, and assignments here in Teachable, our virtual classroom.


Your Instructor


PUA 102 Team
PUA 102 Team

Martin Bailkey, PhD, is a Special Projects Manager at Rooted.

Yolanda Gonzalez is an Urban Agriculture Specialist with Cornell Cooperative Extension Harvest NY.

Anu Rangarajan, PhD, is the Cornell University State Fresh Market Vegetable Specialist and Director of the Cornell Small Farms Program.


The Promise of Urban Agriculture courses were created in fulfillment of a cooperative research agreement (20-TMMSD-NY-0005) between U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA AMS), Cornell University Small Farms Program, and Rooted WI, Inc. (dba Rooted). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USDA.

Course Curriculum



Frequently Asked Questions


How long do I have access to the course?
This course is free until January 31, 2025. To retain free, unlimited access to course materials after this date, please complete all lessons and submit your feedback in both the Pre and Post course surveys found in the course.
When does the course start and finish?
The course starts now and is completely self-paced. You decide when you start, how fast it goes, and when you finish.
Can I receive proof that I completed this course?
A course completion certificate will be automatically available to you when you complete all aspects of this course.
What other courses do you offer on Urban Agriculture?
Within The Promise of Urban Agriculture project, we currently offer three courses for growers and one course for planners and policy makers. Learn more here: https://smallfarmcourses.com/p/urban-ag

Get started now!