• By Tembila Covington
• Posted Friday, June 24, 2016

Learn and Earn Through Urban Farming

Urban Farms can improve food security, while helping improve fresh food access in the inner city of Winston-Salem. They also provide opportunities for urban farmer families to increase profits through increased produce sales and help to significantly reduce their grocery bill. The benefits of urban agriculture in a community do not stop there. The practice of urban agriculture in our neighborhoods will improve environmental conditions and build opportunities to promote community engagement.

As citizen’s Interests continue to increase for growing their own food and buying local, NC Cooperative Extension Forsyth County Center has developed the Urban Farm School. The Urban Farm School program meets two days out of the week for twelve weeks. The first day is a classroom session followed by a second day where the classroom learning is put into practical exercises with hands on urban farming. Cooperative Extension agents will help you learn how to grow and sell your own wholesome produce.

From soil preparation, crop selection and irrigation, to pest management, farming and growing food requires farmers to wear many different hats. The Urban Farm School has a charged mission to help facilitate and offer economic health, for unemployed and underemployed individuals in Forsyth County. The classes of the program provide training in job skills, market garden production, produce handling, and marketing. These skills are useful, profitable and can be applied in other areas of the local community.

The 12 weeks Fall Session will begin August 24, 2016. For individuals who want to learn more about urban food production and marketing as a commercial enterprise please contact Tembila Covington at 336-703-2859 or by email at covingtc@forsyth.cc .