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Jump Start Your Urban Farm

Urban farming is easy!

You just need to know the rules and a NEW way to think!

Jump Start Your Urban Farm is the culmination of over four decades of thought that started for me as a teenager in the mid 70s, as I observed our food system and determined for myself that our food system is broken. As a 7th grader I hand wrote a paper in pencil (remember it was the 70’s) on how we were over fishing the oceans. How does a 14-year-old know this? To this day, I do not know… and someone at one of my lectures recently commented that Jacque Cousteau must have been one of my heroes. WOW, that was a moment of recognition.

Fast forward to 2015, 40 years of playing in the food arena and being an advocate for permaculture and urban farming. I have put all of it together in a cohesive conversation designed to shine a light on a new way of thinking, one that helps you reframe your world and make different choices. I have developed many resources and experiences that I bring to you in this beginning class, Jump Start Your Urban Farm!

During this program you will meet other urban growers – some calling themselves urban farmers – and find your own inspiration. You will gain a new way of thinking and be able to plan your space to be a more sustainable and regenerative space. No matter the size.

WHAT YOU GET:

Prewebinar: 3 Steps to Jump Start Your Urban Farm

In the prewebinar to this course, you will be introduced to some key concepts that we will dive deeper into in classes 1-4. You’ll learn what it means to be an urban farmer, how to become one and why it will transform your relationship with food. Plus, you’ll discover the 3 simple steps that will set you on your path to urban farmerhood (it’s easier than you think!). We will cover why soil is the key to your garden’s success, the 5 essential components of healthy soil, and what “regenerative” means – a key concept in this course that will change the way you look at your life!

Class 1: Diving Into Regenerative Design

First and foremost we are going to explore a new way of thinking that I like to call regenerative design. In a nutshell, humans design a particular type of system, which I like to call a degenerative system. Nature on the other hand is built on regenerative systems. We will spend a fair amount of time distinguishing between the two and looking for regenerative systems in your space. They are there, we just need to know what we are looking for, then we will learn how to replicate them.

Class 2: Urban Farm Systems & the Design Process

Next, you will learn to observe your space and then create your first sustainability plan for your home. This is an integral piece because, often, when we don’t plan, it is like we are shooting in the dark. Plus, if you are anything like me you take on wayyyy too much, and then only part of it gets done. So the planning process is crucial because it helps us avoid becoming overwhelmed – the single biggest barrier to getting things accomplished.

Class 3: The Local Food Economy

In class 3, we will explore a 7-part model of urban food sustainability that I call the Local Food Economy. You’ll discover how you can plug into the local food economy and what kind of a farmer you would like to be. This is where the exploration gets really fun. Do you want to grow for your family, your neighborhood or your entire city? The choice is up to you. Once you get an idea of this you have a lot more power to impact our food sourcing, nutritional density, and so much more. We will also touch on some of the specifics of what you need to be paying attention to in your space, such as how to find your yard’s solar aspect.

Class 4: What’s next?

For me, there has always been an underlying thrust to change the world in a healthy way. What drives you? What can you do with this newfound paradigm? It’s time to take your knowledge out into the world and apply it to your garden, your life and the world around you. This final class will provide the inspiration that shows you how.

Access to the Private Urban Farm U Facebook Group

There, you’ll be able to tap into an online community of urban farmers just like yourself, both new and seasoned. This is a place to ask for advice or guidance, post garden photos and converse with fellow food-growers.

Downloadable Content 

You will receive video and webinar links, and lists of books and other programs that will enhance your experience and provide next steps. You can expect resources such as weekly PDF worksheets that go with each class, bonus permaculture lectures, downloadable files such as Discovering Your Solar Aspect and Discovering Your Local Food Economy, plus videos on hydroponics, small space gardening techniques, community gardens and more.

My Ordinary Extraordinary Yard PDF

Creating an urban farm is as simple as planting your flowerbeds with edibles, and the payoff can include home grown food and a deeper connection to the earth. In this unique mini-book, I share how my yard went from grass and hedges to my very own Urban Farm, full of vegetables and fruit trees with plenty to share. My motto: “Food grows abundantly – let’s grow it and give it away!” This insightful book about how The Urban Farm came to be will inspire you to create your own urban farm.

A New Paradigm to Look at Your Life Regeneratively!

Consider this class your introduction to sustainability (I don’t like that word and will explain why in the class.) I will also discuss why we need to STOP recycling. There is a very powerful distinction between sustainability and regeneration.

So if you are ready to change the way you think and feel about our local food system, jump on board and let’s get started!