BF 120: Vegetable Production I (2023)

From Planning to Planting

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From Planning to Planting

This course helps new and aspiring vegetable producers answer basic questions about site, soil and planning up through planting. Topics covered include soil health, crop layout and rotation, equipment, and financial aspects of vegetable production. Don’t miss BF 121: Vegetable Production II, the continuation of this course, which takes you through the growing season from planting to harvest.

Target Audience

Beginning to Intermediate: This course is for aspiring farmers planning farm start-up within the next year, or those with 1-3 growing seasons of vegetable farming expe rience. Climate, soils, production systems, and appropriate varieties vary a lot from region to region, and this course mostly presents information relevant to farmers in the Northeastern United States. Farmers outside the region are welcome to register, but should do so knowing that some of the information presented may not be appropriate for their region.

Course Objectives

At the end of this course, you will:

  • Know the characteristics of a viable site for commercial vegetable crop production
  • Be able to articulate why soil quality, crop planning and proper pre-plant preparation are critical to success
  • Know where to go to find reliable, fact based resource material on topics related to vegetable farming

Webinars

The bulk of the course happens on your own time, with discussions, readings, and non-graded review quizzes in Teachable, our virtual classroom. To add to the experience, live webinars will be woven into the online interface of the course to allow you to meet on a weekly basis to learn from outside presenters and ask questions to address your farm issues in real time. If you miss one, they are always recorded and posted for later viewing.

Webinar Schedule

Live instruction for 2023 has concluded. You are welcome to enroll now to complete this course on a self-paced schedule and join our next live session in Fall 2024. All webinars are recorded and posted in your online classroom to watch anytime. Once enrolled in this course, you will retain access to all materials indefinitely and may return to participate in future live offerings of the course as well. Please join us!


Your Instructor


Cornell Small Farms Program Instructor
Cornell Small Farms Program Instructor

Course Curriculum


  General Course Resources
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  Week 1: Introductions and Soil Health
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  Week 2: Site Assessment
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  Week 3: Season-long Planning, Layout and Preparation
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  Week 4: Choosing Equipment
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  Week 5: The Business of Vegetable Production: Looking at vegetables through the lens of financial viability
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  Week 6: Cover Crops and Wrap Up
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  Additional Resources
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Frequently Asked Questions


When does the course start and finish?
The course officially starts and ends on the dates given above, when the instructors get involved and begin hosting live weekly webinars. If you are registering after the webinars have concluded for the year, you will have immediate access to all the course materials, and will be able to participate in the next year's webinars if you choose to.
How long do I have access to the course?
How does lifetime access sound? After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like - across any and all devices you own.
What if I am unhappy with the course?
We would never want you to be unhappy! If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, contact us in the first 7 days and we will give you a full refund.

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