Test PB Collection: FTE

The following section includes information on creating a business plan and financing a farm business. Additionally, if your farm will have employees, or even volunteers, you should learn about related labor laws.

There are many marketing opportunities for urban farmers. Growing food in highly visible and populated areas can attract customers and allow farmers to sell directly to consumers.

Healthy soil is essential to all farms and gardens.

Planting and cultivating crops involves a solid knowledge of local conditions and plant preferences. This topic covers the timing and specific steps to growing plants from seeds to harvest.

Pest control can be a challenge on any farmlarge or small. Pests, including insects and other arthropods, vertebrates such as gophers and squirrels, weeds, nematodes, fungi, bacteria, viruses, and veterinary parasites, are an unavoidable part of growing plants or raising animals.

Californias limited water supply presents challenges for urban farmers. Because water for urban agriculture projects is often from municipal sources, it is likely to be more expensive, making water conservation critical.

Farmers who are unfamiliar with applicable state and federal laws risk being out of compliance and incurring serious fines.

Once food has been harvested, there are many handling and storage considerations to maintain quality and safety. The Postharvest Technology Center at UC Davis offers many resources (some listed below), as well as workshops and classes.

Adding value to farm products is one potential way to increase farm income. For example, some urban farmers sell dried herbs, jams, jellies, pickles and other products.

Having fertile and nutrient dense soil is critical to having productive and healthy plants. The following resources explain different strategies for improving your soil.