Sustainable Urban Agriculture

VSU’s Sustainable and Urban Agriculture Program provides a comprehensive educational program for Virginians to adopt sustainable and urban agriculture practices.

The program holistically addresses production, harvesting, marketing and the distribution of vegetables and small fruits within the conceptual framework of sustainability and within an urban or suburban environment.

The program provides educational programming in community and institutional gardening, urban farming, container gardening, and backyard gardening and livestock rearing. Participants receive training on high tunnel (hoophouse) production, low tunnel production, container gardening, raised bed and rooftop gardening, indoor gardening, and the use of hydroponics and aquaponics systems.

The target Learning Objectives of each module are outlined, followed by materials (e.g. Power Point slides) the presenters will use during the training, followed by additional materials you could use to improve and enhance your financial record-keeping skills.

No prior experience or coursework required. 

There will be 10 multiple choice questions after each module. 

1. General Principles of Urban Agriculture
2. Site Selection and planning, Ecosystem Services and Working with City Planners
3. Basic Botany, Physiology and Environmental Effects of Plant Growth
4. Sustainable Soil Management; Urban Soils and Brownfields
5. Integrated Insect Pest Management
6. Permaculture
7. Weed Management
8. Plant Disease Management
9. Plant Propagation and Nursery Management
10. Vegetable, Small Fruit and High Tunnel
11. Hydroponic & Aquaponic Production Systems
12. Urban Aquaculture
13. Urban Poultry
14. Small Ruminants (Rabbits, Sheep, and Goats)
15. Business Principles for Urban Agriculture
16. Urban Agriculture Entrepreneurship
17. Backyard Livestock Demonstration

This course is web based training program delivered through our online Learning Management System.