Apply to the Rooftop Farmer Training program today! Deadline is February 25 at 5 p.m.
This immersive and comprehensive hands-on course that will take participants through the basics of crop production on a green roof. From crop planning to greenhouse production, and from planting to harvest, participants will get an overview of what urban agriculture on a rooftop is all about.
This course consists of 7 weekly full-day sessions in the spring, beginning in the classroom in the morning and followed by field activities in the afternoon. Topics covered include farm planning and design, ecological soil health practices, food sovereignty, phenology and observation, wild plant and insect identification, and more.
This program is open to those from all disciplines and backgrounds at TMU and the community, who are seeking to deepen their knowledge and skills in green roof urban agriculture. While this course is tailored to rooftop farming, the content can be applied to soil-based, ground-level production methods. The course primarily focuses on small-scale market gardening techniques and principles, but the material can be applied to community and home-scale projects.
Dates: The course runs on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. from March 20 to May 15, 2025, with 7 sessions in total. (*Note: there are no sessions on Friday, April 3 and Friday, May 1).
Fees: The course fee is $600 + HST for the public and $400 + HST for students. Payments are due no later than Friday, March 13. A partial payment and cost-barrier plans are available.
Application: The application criteria will prioritize those committed to applying the experience and knowledge gained in the program to their future endeavours in urban agriculture. If this sounds like you, please fill out the application (link in bio) by Wednesday February 25 at 5 p.m., as there are limited spots available. Selected participants will be notified in the first week of March.
Congratulations to TMU's Nicole Austin for Viola Desmond Award
Nicole Austin, Black-led programs coordinator at the Urban Farm, is the Viola Desmond Staff Award recipient.
Austin is a graduate of TMU’s Food and Nutrition Program and the Black-led programs coordinator at the TMU Urban Farm, where she founded the Harvest Collective and Learning Circle, Black Food Sovereignty Initiatives.
A dedicated food justice advocate, she advances community health and food sovereignty through culturally rooted urban farming, education and collaboration.
Her work centres restorative justice, environmental stewardship and knowledge-sharing, with a focus on growing culturally significant and medicinal plants of the African diaspora. Through community engagement and workshops on Black food history, food and climate justice and food literacy, Austin works to challenge systemic inequities in food systems while fostering healing, belonging and Black leadership, while expanding access to nutritious, culturally affirming food.
Rhonda Teitel-Payne (she/her)
Co-coordinator
Toronto Urban Growers
