Dates: September 9 – October 14, 2017, Saturdays, 9 a.m. – noon
Class Location: Arturo Velasquez Institute, 2800 S. Western Avenue
This is a technical training course intended for aspiring urban agriculture entrepreneurs and individuals who are interested in learning best practice season extension techniques. The course has been designed for individuals who already have a firm foundation in sustainable urban growing techniques. It will combine classroom and hands-on work to prepare students to effectively utilize season extension in their existing urban agricultural projects. It will involve farm work activities in all weather conditions. Students are expected to work indoors and outdoors throughout the duration of the course.
Topics and activities will include but are not limited to:
- Crop planning and selection for both spring and fall season extension, for both in-ground and raised-bed gardens
- High tunnel, low tunnel, and cold frame production, construction, and installation
- Fertility, watering, venting, harvesting, and post-harvest handling for season extension
- Overwintering crops and varieties
- Marketing and pricing crops in shoulder season and throughout the winter
- Field trips to urban and peri-urban farms utilizing season extension techniques
- Guest lecturers from urban and peri-urban farmers
- Hands-on production experience and living lab growing in WCH low tunnels and high tunnels
Students will create a season extension crop plan for an existing farm site. Guest speakers and activities designed to support the creation of a crop plan will be incorporated into lessons. The final project is presenting a season extension crop plan as well as submitting a completed written crop plan.
Registration: We are always accepting applicants. This course is limited to ten students, determinations are made by WCH staff.
For additional information on Windy City Harvest Apprenticeship programs, please contact Kris De la Torre at Click here to show mail address.