Beginning Vegetable Farming Courses Online
Vegetables are a popular enterprise choice for new farmers or for established farmers looking to diversify. The Cornell Small Farms Program is offering an opportunity to learn the ins and outs of starting a vegetable production operation in the Northeast, from seeding and transplants to site selection and the financial aspects of growing veggies, in an online course starting January 7th.
BF 120: Vegetable Farming, Part 1 is a 6-week online course that will help you determine whether you want to grow vegetables and give you the skills and knowledge to do so. The course consists of weekly real-time webinars followed by homework, readings, and discussions on your own time in an online setting.
**New this year: students who successfully complete the course requirements are eligible to be considered for a 0% interest crowdfunded loan of up to $10,000 through Kiva Zip.**
The course runs Wed Jan 7 – Feb. 11, 2015–skipping Wed. Jan. 21–with webinars Wed. evenings from 7-8:30 pm EST. The cost is $200, but multiple people from the same farm may participate without paying extra. See the course description page for more on the course learning objectives, instructors, and outline.
BF 120: Vegetable Farming Part 1 is part of the line-up of 12 online courses offered this Fall, Winter and Spring by the Cornell Small Farms Program. Learn which courses would be best for you, read about our team of experienced instructors, see answers to Frequently Asked Questions, and view the calendar of course offerings for 2014-2015.
I noticed that it says starting a farm in the Northeast. I live in Louisiana. Would this course be of any use to me?
Many of the basic concepts are the same. You might have a few different crops and will have different planting times and harvest times for sure, but much of what you learn should translate. Why don’t you get in contact with the folks that are running this program. There should be contact info on the post.