By MICHELE F. MIHALJEVICH

Indiana Correspondent

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Beginning this month, two Purdue University extension offices will offer a multi-session program designed to give participants production and business tips about urban agriculture.

The Urban Agriculture Certificate program will be available in Allen and Marion counties. Sessions begin Nov. 11 in Fort Wayne and Nov. 13 in Indianapolis. Classroom work is expected to wrap up in early April in Fort Wayne and in mid-March in Indianapolis.

“The program offers basic planning information that’s the foundation of a successful business,” said James Wolff, agriculture and natural resources extension educator in Allen County. “We’ll look at production practices, site planning for fruits and vegetables, how to plan seed orders and proper pest management. We’ll be focusing on organic type practices.”

Additional topics include environmental safety, soil health, food safety, marketing and irrigation. The cost of the program is $350. The registration deadline is Nov. 7. For information and to register, visit www.digitaleducation.purdue.edu/urbanagfw (Fort Wayne) or www.digitaleducation.purdue.edu/urbanagindy (Indianapolis). Class size is limited to 25 at each site.

“The certificate shows they’ve completed intensive training and that they have knowledge, coupled with a business plan that showcases their expertise in this area,” he said. “This could help them acquire land or agricultural resources. The certificate can give them a leg up.”

Thirteen classroom sessions are scheduled for the winter months. In addition, four field trips to urban agriculture sites are planned for the growing season. Some course work will be offered online.

“We want to do the classwork when we’re not growing,” Wolff explained. “Those using high tunnels might be doing some production during those months but most farmers will start in the spring. Our goal is to be done by the time things get busy.”

The program was first offered last year in Marion County, which developed the curriculum, he said. Extension officials eventually hope to expand to other areas of the state. “Even in small towns, there are urban type challenges and urban areas,” Wolff noted. “In addition to those wanting to farm, the program is also geared toward those who might manage community gardens. They may not be producing for a profit. They may work with volunteers and this will help them get their site planned properly.”

The smaller class size allows organizers to work directly with participants, he said.

“We can plan for their specific operation whether it’s an urban farm or a community garden,” Wolff stated. “For some of them, they may have already acquired land but they haven’t started farming. For others, they’re planning something that could be. They haven’t necessarily acquired the land yet but may have an understanding of some of the steps involved.”

Interest in urban agriculture has grown over the years, he said.

“There are a lot of different reasons (for that growth),” Wolff explained. “There are a lot of different backstories as to why people are getting into it. For some, it’s a desire to be connected to a food source and to know where it comes from. For others, it’s a desire to solve some food access issues in urban areas. They want to help provide fresh local food.”