Are you passionate about sustainable agriculture within a city environment? Urban farming is becoming popular for its ability to foster community engagement and education about sustainable practices, encouraging connections between people and their food sources!
Certificate of Urban Farming is a professional development course that explores food security, environmental sustainability, and community well-being through urban agriculture.
In this urban farming course, you’ll explore the scope and nature of urban farming, the selection of farming locations and types (plant and animal), cutting-edge farming technologies, startup strategies, and value-addition methods. You will also discover innovative practices like hydroponics, aquaponics, vertical farming, and other traditional farming techniques.
On completion of this course, you will feel confident to transform unused city spaces into productive land to enhance biodiversity and green cover.
Course Structure
Unit - Urban Farming
Unit 1 – Scope and Nature of Urban Farming
- Introduction – why this matters
- What is urban farming?
- Who is an urban farmer?
- Motivating concerns
- Environmental concerns
- Food security concerns
- Sustainability concerns
- Food wastage
- Motivating benefits
- Profitability
- Improved nutrition
- Opportunities
- Urban farm concepts
- Private urban farms
- Public or community urban farms
- Restaurants and retail shops
- Florists
- Permaculture
- Further factors in concept planning
- Food security
- Diversification of urban farming
- Example 1 – plant & animal tissue culture
- Example 2 – urban foraging
Unit 2 – What And Where To Farm
- Choose wisely
- What to farm?
- Geographic location
- Local climate
- Available space
- Infrastructure access
- Community and social demographics
- Restrictions on what can be farmed
- Permits and licences
- Farming animals
- Farming plants
- Time to harvest
- Where to farm?
- Evaluating sites
- Indoor sites
- Factories, warehouses & offices
- Purpose-built
- Residential houses
- Greenhouses
- Shipping containers
- Outdoor sites
- Rooftops
- Parks
- Urban land
- Community gardens
- Backyards
- Space considerations
- Legal restrictions
- Standards
- Growing animals in confined spaces
- Growing crops in confined spaces
- Planning – permissions, impacts and costs
- Promotion and consumer perspective
- Other considerations
- Choosing the right seeds
- Growing unusual animal breeds
Unit 3 – Urban Farming Technologies
- Urban farm technologies
- Protected environments
- Growth cabinets
- Cloches, greenhouses, and Florida rooms
- Hydroponics
- Aquaponics
- Aquaculture
- Vertical farming
- Multistorey farming
- Diversified productionsystems
- Single product production systems
- Emerging technologies in urban agriculture
- Internet of things (IoT)
- Automation
- Artificial intelligence
- Ai in pest control
- Robotics
- Blockchain
- Nanotechnology
Unit 4 – Starting Up an Urban Farm
- Initial considerations
- Decision making
- Market research
- Potential risks
- Pollution – chemical, heat, noise
- Personal safety and hygiene risks
- Contamination risks
- Assessing risks
- Legal considerations
- Forecasting and preparation
- Research and business planning
- Analysing costs and benefits
- Marketing
- Acquisitions and launching
- Acquire the site
- Property setup and staff training
- Launching the business
- Growing the business
Unit 5 – Animal Farming Systems
- Changing farms
- Intensive animal farming
- Challenges of urban animal farming
- The physical environment
- Ethics
- Services and resources access
- Biosecurity and health
- Security of animals
- How to increase productivity
- Pasture intensification
- Rest period
- Grazing period
- Stocking
- Carrying capacity
- Livestock selection & multispecies grazing
- Animal feed and watering
- Choosing high value farm activities
- Integration of urban farming in town planning
- Case studies
- Urban aquaculture
- Urban poultry
- Urban dairy farms
Unit 6 – Plant Farming Systems
- Introduction to plant farming
- Challenges of urban plant farming
- The physical environment
- Services and resources access
- Biosecurity & health factors
- Growing crops in soil
- In-ground plant growing
- Containers
- Soil improvement
- Rooftop growing systems
- Intensive
- Extensive
- Adaptations for indoor systems
- Lighting
- Temperature
- Humidity
- Carbon dioxide for plants
- Vertical growing systems
- Indoor or outdoor wall systems
- Soilless crop production systems
- Saves space
- Saves water
- Reduces maintenance
- Reduces risk of pests and disease
- Experimental scientific progress
- Vertical farming
- Aeroponics
- Propagation techniques
- Use of seed
- Use of cuttings
- Use of root cuttings
- Grafting
- Harvesting techniques
- How to increase productivity
- Storage of produce pre-market
- Vegetable curing
- Crop cooling
- Storage requirement root crops
Unit 7 – Value Adding
- Model of business for viability
- The importance of market research
- Retail services
- Selling to restaurants
- Growing more in small spaces
- Farmers markets
- Farm tourism or agritourism & education services
- Value adding via agritourism
- Marketing at events
- Volunteers, grants & skills training
- Preserving & processing produce
- Producing animal feed (pets/livestock, fish)
- Manufacturing produce and other goods
Unit 8 – Problem-Based Learning Project – Planning an Urban Farm
Study Hours
Estimated duration 50 hours
Course Delivery and Start
Start anytime, self-paced and 100% online
Assessment
Assessment will be comprised of written exercises, including short-answer questions, reflective tasks, short reports and/or projects. There are no examinations or due dates for assessment. As a result, you can complete training in your own time and at your own pace with the assistance of unlimited tutor support.
Testimonials
Graduation
A Certificate of Attainment and Statement of Results will be issued upon successful completion of this course.
How to Enrol
Enrol Online: Enrol Now
Enrol via Live Chat (Business Hours)
Enrol via Telephone 1300 76 2221 (Business Hours)
Enrol via Purchase Order/Tax Invoice
Enrolling Multiple Staff?
To enrol multiple staff, please complete the Employer Enrolment Form. We’ll be in touch within 60 minutes during business hours!
Payment Options
Visa, Mastercard, BPAY and Direct Deposit.
Course FAQs
Why Choose Australian Online Courses?
- Professional development that is widely recognised and respected;
- Improve your employment opportunities;
- Study online, anywhere via our elearning system;
- High-quality professional development programs written by industry experts;
- All course materials provided online – no textbooks to buy;
- Unlimited tutor support via email;
- We offer twelve (12) months’ access, with extensions available upon application (fees apply);
- Course may be tax deductible; see your tax advisor.
Are there any entry requirements or pre-requisites?
To study online with Australian Online Courses you will need a computer (desktop PC/laptop) running a current/updated operating system with reliable high-speed internet access. You will need to use the Google Chrome browser to access your course.
Are there any computer requirements?
To study online with Australian Online Courses you will need a computer (desktop PC/laptop) running a current/updated operating system with reliable high-speed internet access. You will need to use the Google Chrome browser to access your course.
When can I start this course?
You can start within 60 minutes during business hours when you enrol and pay in full with a credit card!
Credit card: Within 60 mins during business hours.
BPAY: Within 1-2 working days.
Internet Banking: Within 1-2 working days.
Cheque/Money Order: Upon receipt of mailed cheque.
How is this course delivered?
This course is delivered online via our easy-to-navigate Learning Management System (LMS), where you will discover interactive online learning/written content, resources and assessment.
Do I need to attend classes or undertake any work placements?
No. All courses are delivered online via our LMS and there are no work placement requirements in this course.
What support can I expect from Australian Online Courses?
Unlimited tutor support is available throughout your studies via email only during business hours Monday to Friday. Our Administrative team are available Monday to Friday via email, live chat and telephone.
I am an international student. Can I enrol into this course?
Yes! We accept enrolments from individuals both within Australia and internationally; location is no barrier to entry into our programs.
Career Pathways
Future growth
Strong
Unemployment
Low
Professional Development for:
- Hobby farmers
- Urban farm manager
- Agricultural technician
- Sustainability consultant
- Community garden coordinator
- Urban agricultural educator
- Urban planning roles
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