Market Gardening & Organic Farming for Beginners
An introduction to the foundation of regenerative agriculture
Market Gardening & Organic Farming for Beginners
Discover what it takes
to become an organic farmer
Whether you’re looking to start a new career, grow your own food, or simply learn more about sustainable farming practices, you need to understand the foundation of the ecological market garden model. This course is specifically designed for beginners and will take you on an enriching journey into the world of small-scale organic farming. Led by the world-renowned JM Fortier, this comprehensive program serves as an ideal starting point for aspiring growers.
Exploring the World of Organic Farming
Grow consistent
Veggies
Get a comprehensive overview of the guiding principles of market gardening
GET A HIGHER
SUCCESS RATE
Identify the components of the small-scale market garden model
Increase your
revenues
Understand what skillsets are required to run a small scale farm
Feed your
community
Acquire the vocabulary and concepts necessary to continue your learning journey
Who is this course for?
Newcomers—those who need the 101-level course on farming.
Curious people—those who are fascinated by the small farming movement and want to know more.
Dreamers—those who want to start their own farm, but are not sure what it really takes.
People looking for a life change—the ones seriously considering a career switch, but wanna make sure farming is really for them.
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
Produced in collaboration with
Meet your teacher
Jean-Martin Fortier
Since launching his bestseller 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.
His current mission is to pass on this knowledge to thousands of farmers through his work at the Market Gardener Institute.
It could be you!
When you do the work and stay committed, the results you can create are extraordinary. Just imagine the growth you’ll experience with the right training, guidance, and support.
Don’t just take our word for it, see how our course changed the farming journey of hundreds of growers.
“Jean-Martin is a great teacher and this course was very valuable in helping me be a better supporter of this ecological transition.”
— Geneviève Cloutier, Canada
“It’s a good base to understand what you are getting yourself into when considering starting your own micro farm.”
— Anny Dominguez
How much does it cost?
Safe payment with Stripe or Paypal
What is inside?
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Small Farms Feed The World Ebook
The stories and wisdom of 10 growers practicing human-scale biointensive agriculture.
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 guides you through the principles for establishing a thriving organic small-scale market garden.
$99 USD
Safe payment with Stripe or Paypal
Stay in the loop!
Join our mailing list to get exclusive content and invitations from the Market Gardener Institute.
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.
