Master Your Farm Layout
Create a clear, functional, and energy-efficient master plan for your entire farm in just 4 weeks.
Master Your Farm Layout
Create a clear, functional, and energy-efficient master plan for your entire farm in just 4 weeks.
A step-by-step ecological design
process tailored for growers
Design is the difference between a farm that feels like a constant struggle and one that works in harmony with its landscape. This 4-week live course, facilitated by Benjamin Fahrer, is a hands-on lab designed to help you move past the “theory” and get your vision onto paper.
Whether you are starting a new operation or redesigning an existing one for better efficiency, this course provides a proven methodology to integrate water, infrastructure, and production into one cohesive layout. By the end of this program, you won’t just have ideas, you’ll have a finished master plan, a 5-year vision, and a realistic budget to make it happen.
Turn your vision into a functional reality
This isn’t just a lecture; it’s a design lab where you apply ecological and market gardening principles directly to your own land.
MASTER YOUR SITE ASSESSMENT
Develop deep skills in mapping and sector planning to understand your land's unique energies like sun, wind, and water.
DESIGN FOR EFFICIENCY
Optimize your layout for foot traffic, circulation, and production to ensure your farm is as beautiful as it is functional.
SMART WATER MANAGEMENT
Learn techniques for water catchment and flow that support your crops and soil health.
PLAN YOUR BUDGET & TIMELINE
Avoid "project creep" by creating a clear 5-year roadmap and a budget that prioritizes the bare essentials first.
Who is this course for?
New Farm Owners
You’re starting with a blank canvas and want to avoid costly infrastructure mistakes by designing it right the first time.
Seasoned Farmers
You need to "lean up" your operation, improve flow, or integrate regenerative perennial systems into your existing annual blocks.
Ecological Designers
You want a practical, farm-focused application of permaculture principles from a facilitator with 25 years of experience.
This course is suitable for any farm producers
How does this course work?
Starting April 28th, join Benjamin Fahrer for an intensive 4-week cycle of live learning and real-time feedback. Each week follows a two-part structure: a 90-minute Teaching Session (Tuesdays) and a 90-minute Q&A/Design Workshop (Thursdays).
LIVE TEACHING
ASK QUESTIONS IN REAL-TIME
ENGAGE WITH PEER GROWERS
HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE THROUGH HOMEWORK
one-on-one feedback
replay access
DON’T MISS THE NEXT cohort!
JOIN THE FIRST COHORT OF FARM DESIGN COURSE
If you’re Canadian and would like to pay directly in Canadian dollars, please email us at info@themarketgardener.com.
This farm Farm Design Course will help you
Conduct a deep contextual review of your site to understand water flow, topography, and the unique “sectors” that influence your farm.
Optimize your farm layout by placing access roads and core structures like washpacks and greenhouses in a way that saves time and energy.
Learn how to place annual blocks in high rotation alongside perennial systems, shelterbelts, and wild areas for long-term farm health.
Move from brainstorming to a finished master plan, complete with a 5-year implementation timeline and a budget that prioritizes the bare essentials
Present your design to Benjamin Fahrer and a private community of growers to receive constructive feedback and ensure your plan is ready for action
Meet your teacher
Benjamin Fahrer
With over 25 years of experience, Benjamin Fahrer specializes in the practical application of ecological design.
His approach focuses on the intersection of regenerative systems and food production, helping growers create farms that are not only productive but also resilient and beautiful.
Invest in your farm's future
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Course Outline
Contextual Review and Water
Lay the foundation with site assessment, mapping, and sector planning while designing your farm’s water source and flow.
Topics covered
- Validate demand
- Your offer
- Your ideal customer
- Pricing and profit plan
Homework
- Define the reviewed topic within the provided template
Access, Structures, and Earthworks
Topics covered
- Your story, your mission, your offer
- Your pillars
- Your visuals
- Working with AI
Homework
- Define the reviewed topic within the provided template
- Create your content calendar and communication pillars for social media
Vegetation and Soil Health
Integrate annual production blocks with perennial systems, market gardening, shelterbelts, and plant guilds that support the ecology of your garden.
Topics covered
- Providers and technologies
- Audience
- Content and online experience
- Create opt-in
- Create a lead magnet
- Email list building
- Newsletter
Homework
- Select your email and web provider, if not existing & create your account
- Write between 2-3 emails with the help of AI tools
- Reflect in a dynamic manner to grow your email list
Bringing It All Together
Finalize your land design project with a comprehensive 5-year timeline and an implementation budget.
Topics covered
- Communications platform
- Create your own template
- Create visuals
- Socials – tips and tricks
- How-to optimize your communications on socials
Homework
- Create an inspiration Pinterest board
- Create visuals in Canva
- Create an offer post or poster
Session Calendar:
| Schedule | Teaching session and Q&A |
|---|---|
|
1st session |
Tuesday April 28th 1pm est |
|
2nd session |
Tuesday May 5th1pm est |
|
3rd session |
Tuesday May 12th 1pm est |
|
4th session |
Tuesday May 19th 1pm est |
| Schedule | Office Hours / Q&A |
|---|---|
|
1st session |
Thursdays April 30th 1pm est |
|
2nd session |
Thursdays May 7th 1pm est |
|
3rd session |
Thursdays May 14th 1pm est |
|
4th session |
Thursdays May 21st 1pm est |
“Design is the foundation of a successful farm. When we align our production goals with the patterns of the land, we move from constant struggle to a system that is efficient, resilient, and truly regenerative.”
— Benjamin Fahrer
Stop guessing where your next infrastructure project should go. Join Benjamin Fahrer in this intensive 4-week design lab and leave with a professional master plan for your farm’s future.
Secure payment with Stripe or Paypal
Be on the lookout for the next cohort!
Frequently Asked Questions
TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE COURSE
Who is this Farm Design course for?
This course is perfect for both those launching a new farm operation and experienced farmers looking to redesign or “lean up” their existing operation to boost efficiency, functionality, and ecological connection.
Do I need permaculture expertise to join?
Not at all. This course is about the practical application of ecological design. We start with the ethical foundations and guide you through the methodology step-by-step, from initial mapping to final implementation.
What is the weekly time commitment?
Participants should plan for 3 hours of live classroom time (including teaching and Q&A) and an additional 3–7 hours per week for homework and design exercises to maximize the benefits.
What will I have completed by the end of the 4 weeks?
You will walk away with a finished master plan for your farm, complete with a 5-year vision timeline and a rough budget. This final package is designed to help you prioritize spending and prevent project creep.
Will the course address my specific soil and water issues?
Yes. Session 1 heavily focuses on water management (source, flow, and catchment), and Session 3 covers soil health and nutrient density, tailored to your specific site.
What if I don't currently have a farm site?
Each session features a 60-minute teaching presentation followed by a 30-minute Q&A workshop. We also host a dedicated Q&A session on Thursdays to address any questions that arise from the weekly homework.
Is there a community element to the course?
Yes. We create a dedicated Farm Design WhatsApp group where participants can ask questions, share ideas, and receive peer feedback between sessions.
Will I receive feedback on my design?
Absolutely. Each participant delivers a 5-minute final presentation and receives immediate verbal feedback from Benjamin Fahrer, followed by additional written feedback.
What materials or tools are required?
You will need a computer, the interactive course handbook (provided upon signup), and your site assessment data. A pre-course questionnaire will be sent to help you gather the necessary information.
