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Learn all you need to know to become an organic farmer!
Looking to start a new career?
To grow your own food?
Or to learn about sustainable farming practices?
Our Market Gardening & Organic Farming for Beginners course will help you make the first step it takes to become an organic farmer!
In this course, you will:
- Understand the foundation of the ecological and biointensive market garden model
- Learn everything you need to consider when choosing and designing your farm site
- Understand the importance of crop planning and get help doing it
- Discover the crucial steps to grow amazing crops such as starting seeds, soil fertility, weeding, crop protection, harvesting and conditioning
- Get the inside of how to sell your crops to market and start making money!
Is this course for me?
This course is exactly what you need if you are:
New to organic farming and looking to have a 101-level course on farming
Curious about small farming movement and want to understand the principles better
Dreamer of a new lifestyle and considering starting your own farm, but want to make sure farming is really for you
How does it work?
This online course provides precise written and video instruction, to give you an overview of what it takes to become a grower.
ENGAGING VIDEO
TUTORIALS
DETAILED
TECHNICAL SHEETS
QUIZ TO TEST YOUR LEARNINGS
Meet your teacher
Jean-Martin Fortier
FARMER, EDUCATOR AND AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR
Since launching os his book “The Market Gardener, A Successful Grower’s Handbook for Small-Scale Organic Farming” in 2012, JM Fortier has been internationally recognized as a foremost expert in the field of biointensive farming and has spoken at hundreds of conferences, keynote addresses, and training sessions, becoming an inspiration for farmers worldwide.
JM is also the author of “The Winter Market Gardening“, a book dedicated to winter crops. This publication has been adapted for three specific markets to reflect the different climatic realities of northern regions. With over ten years of practical experience in winter growing, his ideas are firmly rooted in concrete, proven knowledge.
His current mission is to pass on this knowledge to thousands of farmers through his work at the Market Gardener Institute.
How much does it cost ?
Our farming course for beginners provides precise written and video instruction, to give you the exact methodology, tools and techniques needed to grow field crops successfully in a context of heightened efficiency.
MODULE 1
Welcome
Welcome to the fascinating world of small-scale biointensive farming! First things first: in this lesson, we will share the goals and intentions of this course.
MODULE 2
The Biointensive Microfarm
Changing the world requires taking a different approach. In this lesson, you will discover the guiding principles of vegetable microfarming and the advantages of the human-scale farming model.
Module content
- Tutoriel: The Biointensive Microfarm Tutorial
- Technical Sheet: Site Selection & Design
MODULE 3
Site Selection and Design
Selecting a site for your farm is an important decision that will have a strong impact on your work and quality of life. In this lesson, you will grasp everything you need to consider when choosing and designing your site.
Module content
- Tutoriel: Site Selection & Design Tutorial
- Technical Sheet: Site Selection & Design
MODULE 4
Crop Planning
Planning and calculating your production effectively is essential in running a successful farm. In this lesson, you will learn techniques to maximize space and time for continuous production.
Module content
- Tutoriel: Crop Planning Tutorial
- Technical Sheet: Printable Technical Sheet
MODULE 5
Starting Seeds
Starting seeds is a crucial step in the vegetable production process. Farmers need to understand the growth cycle of each crop in order to produce an abundance of high-quality vegetables. In this lesson, you will understand the role and functioning of a nursery.
Module content
- Tutoriel: Starting Seeds Tutorial
- Technical Sheet: Printable Technical Sheet
MODULE 6
Soil & Fertility
Minimal tillage is one of the fundamental principles of regenerative farming. Thriving microorganisms in the soil support the fertility necessary to produce an abundance of high-quality vegetables, year after year. In this lesson, you will learn techniques that promote the development of life in the soil.
Module content
- Tutoriel: Soil & Fertility Tutorial
- Technical Sheet: Printable Technical Sheet
MODULE 7
Weeding
Weed management is a lot of work and it’s time-consuming. Adopting the right tools and techniques will make this tedious task more manageable. In this lesson, we will discuss the best organic practices for weed control.
Module content
- Tutoriel: Weeding Tutorial
- Technical Sheet: Printable Technical Sheet
MODULE 8
Crop Protection
Once you’ve successfully prepared your beds, grown seedlings, and transplanted, your next challenge will be managing diseases and pests. In this lesson, we will discuss the different lines of defense available to ensure successful, healthy harvests
Module content
- Tutorial: Crop Protection
- Technical Sheet: Crop Protection
MODULE 9
Season Extension
With simple shelters, it’s possible to grow vegetables during cooler months and arrive at markets with fresh, local vegetables not yet available anywhere else. In this lesson, you will learn how to grow vegetables earlier in spring and into the winter.
Module content
- Tutorial: Season Extension
- Technical Sheet: Season Extension
MODULE 10
Harvest & Conditioning
It’s time to harvest the fruits of your labor! The art of market gardening focuses on growing great crops, but you also need to know how to keep your vegetables fresh until they’re in your customers’ hands. In this lesson, you will discover proper harvesting and conditioning techniques.
Module content
- Tutorial: Harvest & Conditioning
- Technical Sheet: Harvest & Conditioning
MODULE 11
Selling Your Produce
Optimizing your sales and distribution channels will help you make a decent living from all of your hard work in the field. In this lesson, we will examine the main outlets for selling directly to consumers.
Module content
- Tutorial: Selling Your Produce
- Technical Sheet: Selling Your Produce
MODULE 12
Closing Words
Working in human-scale agriculture is not always easy, but it is the most rewarding job in the world. Whether you’re starting your own farm or training on farms that follow this model, it’s important to remember that you are helping to build a better world.
Bonus
Small Farms Feed The World Ebook
The stories and wisdom of 10 growers practicing human-scale biointensive agriculture.
Bonus
5 Things to Know Before Starting a Small Farm
In this bonus content you will learn:
- How to gain the right experience before getting started
- The most important considerations when planning a farm
- How to prepare your finances and business plans to make it all possible
- The lifestyle decisions to inspire a long-lasting career
“What we need is food grown with care by and for people who care.”
— JM Fortier
JM Fortier guides you through the principles for establishing a thriving organic small-scale market garden.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tell me more about the course
What will I learn?
This course will give you all the guiding principles for establishing an organic, small-scale market garden, including site selection and design, crop planning, extending the season, starting crops, minimal working of the soil, weeding, crop protection, harvesting, packaging, and sales channels.
What’s not covered?
This is an introductory class. You will learn all the guiding principles and vocabulary to continue your
education. For a deep dive into growing high-quality vegetables on a small-scale farm and a comprehensive overview of tools, techniques, and best practices, enroll in The Market Gardener Masterclass.
Where do the courses take place?
Everything is online — no travel is required. You can go through the training at your own pace. Of course, the real test is in how you apply this education to your own farm or market garden.
How much time do I need to commit?
The course requires approximately 9 hours to complete if done linearly. The real-time investment will be in implementing your learning in your farm project.
When are the registration periods?
All our on-demand courses are accessible anytime.
Which devices can I use to access the program?
After registering for the program, you will be prompted to create a user profile for accessing the training platform. You will then be able to take the course on any device connected to the Internet. Please note that you can only access our courses from one device at a time, whether it’s your smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer.
In which languages do you offer the program?
Our on-demand courses are offered in English and French. All documents and text are offered in the language of your initial purchase. French speakers, please note that our videos are in English with French subtitles.
Does it replace practical experience?
No. Our program is designed to help people with real-life farming and gardening experience take their operations to the next professional level. Some of our students are just starting out, while others have a few growing seasons under their belts; some have been farming for decades — most have said that using our program has made a big difference in their business’s success.
