Resources

Toolkits

Starting and Growing Your Urban Farm or Garden

Whether you’re just beginning or seeking to expand your urban garden or farming businesses, these resources offer information that can help you on your journey. Check out the below links, then reach out to your local Cornell Cooperative Extension representative with any questions.

Guide to Farming in New York State (English & Spanish)

Guide to Urban Farming in New York State

USDA Urban Agriculture Toolkit

Teaching manuals, videos, and resources for farmers seeking new markets

Vegetable Planting Guide for New York City area

Tips for Soil Testing

Food Safety Planning

Safe food harvesting and processing practices are critical for healthy people and businesses. Ensure you are following the regulations and guidance from food safety experts. Follow these links for more information and reach out to your local Cornell Cooperative Extension representative with any questions.

GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) audits from the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service

Guidance for Industry: Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 1998

The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Cornell Cooperative Extension Urban Agriculture Programs

Stay up to date on the latest projects and opportunities from the Cornell Cooperative Extension and its urban agriculture programs and initiatives across New York State.

Harvest New York Urban Agriculture Homepage

Cornell Small Farms Urban Agriculture Homepage

Controlled Environment Agriculture

Cornell Cooperative Extension Homepage

Testing Options and Materials

Eggs:

Egg testing services are difficult to come by, and Cornell does not offer egg testing. It can also be tricky to use egg results to guide decision making. One possible option for egg testing is the PADLS lab at UPenn.

Soil:

Focus on soil testing to identify any problem areas, paired with soil improvement and healthy chicken keeping practices (see resources on our website).

What Gardeners Can Do: Tips for Urban Chicken Keepers (English & Spanish)

Compost:

Healthy Soils, Healthy Communities

Helpful Research and Reports

A compilation of helpful urban agriculture research and reports:

Guide to Farming in New York State (English & Spanish) from Cornell Cooperative Extension, Cornell Small Farms
Guide to Urban Farming in New York State from Cornell Cooperative Extension, Cornell Small Farms
USDA Urban Agriculture Toolkit from the United States Department of Agriculture
The Promise of Urban Agriculture: National Study of Commercial Farming in Urban Areas Summary and Full Report from the USDA and Cornell University Small Farms Program (2019)
NYC Survey of Agricultural Soils (2018) from Cornell Cooperative Extension, Harvest New York Urban Agriculture Program
Vegetable Planting Guide for New York City Area from Cornell Cooperative Extension, Harvest New York
Specialist Mushroom Cultivation Project from the Cornell Small Farms Program
Tips for Soil Testing from Cornell Cooperative Extension, Harvest New York
Making Urban Agriculture an Intentional, Equitable City Redevelopment Strategy from Christina D. Rosan at Temple University's department of Geography and Urban Studies in Philadelphia, PA
Food Forward NYC: A 10-year Food Policy Plan from the City of New York's Mayor's Office of Bill de Blasio

Videos

The Cornell Cooperative Extension and Harvest New York YouTube channels offer a variety of helpful videos, from urban pest management and hydroponics best practices to hemp harvesting advice to overviews of important policies like the 30% New York Initiative.

Browse by topic

Webinar Recordings

Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Harvest New York Urban Agriculture team hosts the annual TUFFS (The Urban Farmer-to-Farmer Summit). The Summit was virtual in 2022, providing an opportunity to record and share each presentation.

TUFFS 2023 planning has already begun! If you’re interested in being part of the 3rd annual TUFFS steering committee, reach out to nyctuffs [at] gmail.com (nyctuffs[at]gmail[dot]com).

Panel discussion of urban farmers from The Urban Farmer-to-Farmer Summit (TUFFS) 2022

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Grants and Funding Opportunities

A list of current initiatives and programs offering funding for urban agriculturists in New York State.

Climate Resilient Farming Grant Program from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets

Agricultural Non-point Source Abatement and Control Program from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets

Minority and Women Business Enterprise (MWBE) certification from the New York State Empire State Development

Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business (SDVOB) certification from the New York State Office of General Services

New York State Agriculture and Markets Funding Opportunities

New York State Grants Gateway

Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Grants from the United States Department of Agriculture

Composting and Food Waste Reduction (CFWR) Cooperative Agreements from the United States Department of Agriculture

Loans and Grants for Farm Expansion from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets

Funding and services opportunities from NYSERDA

Funding for high tunnels from the USDA’s NRCS

Financial assistance programs for environmental resource conservation projects from the USDA’s NRCS

A list of general funding opportunities compiled by the Hudson Valley AgriBusinessDevelopment Corporation