PUA 103: Urban Farming by Community Nonprofits

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 Farming by Community Nonprofits" is designed for nonprofit farm staff and members of community organizations that manage urban farms. It goes deeper into the specific concerns of operating an urban farm as a nonprofit. Throughout the course, examples from the urban farming nonprofit "Rooted" based in Madison, Wisconsin are highlighted.

Target Audience

Aspiring/Beginner – This course is directed at farmers and staff at nonprofit organizations that currently or plan to operate an urban farm. It assumes participants know how to plant, grow, and harvest a crop and are looking for guidance on when and where a nonprofit structure can support urban farm success.

Course Objectives

Upon completing "Urban Farming by Community Nonprofits," you will be able to:

  • Articulate how an urban farm, whether established or new, meets the mission and objectives of a nonprofit organization.
  • Anticipate planned and unplanned changes connected to the urban farm.
  • Know the obligations of external funding and the types of record keeping asked for by funders.
  • Understand the need for quality project evaluation.
  • Maintain a successful urban farm consistent with the organization’s nonprofit mission.
  • Initiate the application of an anti-racist lens to urban farming.

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 103 Team
PUA 103 Team

Marcia Caton Campbell, MCRP, PhD, Executive Director, Rooted

Martin Bailkey, PhD, Special Projects Manager, Rooted

Anu Rangarajan, PhD, Cornell University, State Fresh Market Vegetable Specialist and Director, 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

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