1000 Level

Free
USU 1000

1000: Goals & Action Planning for Your Upstart Farm

To get started, let's assess your farm goals, analyze your current position, and organize an official timeline to keep things moving forward. By the end of this course, you'll have an action plan and mission statement!

Free
Crops

1010: Hydroponic and Aquaponic Crops

By the end of this course, you'll have a good understanding of the different crop choices you have available to you as a hydroponic or aquaponic farmer and how to grow them successfully.

Free
Growing and selling microgreens

1011: Growing & Selling Microgreens

If you're a first time grower looking to develop your "green thumb" while starting to build a profitable basis for you farm, this course is for you! Microgreens are easy and cheap to grow, are saleable for a premium, and have incredible margins. In this course, you'll learn how to approach, grow, and sell microgreens successfully.

Free
USU 2010

1020: The Four Markets

Upstart Farmers primarily serve four markets: Farmers' Markets, CSAs, Restaurants, and Grocery Stores. In this course, learn the benefits, challenges, and success strategies of each.

Social Media Marketing for Farmers

1021: Social Media Marketing for Farmers

In this course, learn the most effective secrets for using strategic social media marketing to promote your farm, conducting market research, and advertising your farm on a small budget.

Free
Farmers Market Success

1022: Farmers’ Market Success

In this course, you'll learn the steps of getting accepted into a competitive farmers' market and then how to make a good, lasting impression once you’re in. This includes how to impress not only all of the customers at the market, but also your market manager and even your fellow vendors.

Free
Production method

1030: Choosing Your Production Method

In this course, you will learn about DWC, NFT, media beds, Bato buckets, aeroponics and vertical production including how each works and which are right for your farm.

Free
DWC

1031: Aquaponic DWC: Design & Economics

Learn how to create a basic conceptual design for an aquaponic farm, layout fish tanks, filtration, and growing systems, determine plant and fish production, estimate farm revenue and expenses, and more.

Free
Bato Buckets

1032: Bato Buckets & Vine Crop Production

Bato buckets are a popular hydroponic system for growing vining crops like tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, etc. Whether they're your stand-alone growing method, or a supplementary system, they make a great addition to any farm.

Free
Understanding ZipGrow

1033: Understanding ZipGrow

Vertical growing is increasingly becoming a prominent hydroponic production method in urban, indoor and greenhouse environments. This course is for anyone looking to understand ZipGrow vertical growing technology,

Free
Market Research for Farmers

1039: Market Research for Farmers

Before writing your business plan, pulling money out of savings, or even trying to get an investor, you must determine if your business idea is feasible through market research. Learn how to conduct market research as a farmer in this course.

Free
USU 1040

1040: Intro to Business Planning

When you're looking to start an Upstart Farm, a business plan is essential. This course will walk you through the 6 key sections of a business plan and how to research and write each.

Free
USU 2000

1050: Funding Your Farm

In this course, you will organize prerequisite documents for funding, explore options to organically scale or self-fund your business, learn the basics of crowdfunding, discover USDA microloans for farmers, and identify potential grant opportunities for your farm.

Free
Sales for Farmers

1055: Sales for Farmers

Most people don't get into farming to become a salesperson. But, when it comes down to it, part of your role as a farmer is to sell. Being a good salesperson is actually easier than you think, and it can be one of the keys to making your business a success. And we’re going to show you how.

Free
Farm Compliance and Food Safety

1060: Farm Compliance and Food Safety

If you're selling your produce, odds are that you'll need to understand Food Safety/HACCP, sanitation procedures, compliance, and Food Defense before many markets accept you. Get the info you need in this course.

Free
Farm Insurance Webinar

1070: Farm Insurance: Finding the Right Policy

In this webinar course, we’re going to help you navigate farm insurance and understand how to get the right policy for your modern farm.

Free
Humidity Management

1090: Humidity Management: Tools & Tech for Indoor Growers

Humidity is a big problem for indoor growers. In this course, you'll learn what humidity is, how it affects your plants, and how to control it properly.

Free
HVAC Design

1091: HVAC Design for Indoor Growers

This course will introduce HVAC design concepts and systems used for managing the climate of an indoor growing operation, including information on systems, sizing, designs, costs, and more.

Free
Heating and Cooling Greenhouses

1092: Energy Efficient Heating & Cooling for Greenhouses

Wondering how to heat or cool a greenhouse effectively, in a way that is sustainable and energy-efficient. If so, you're in the right place.

Free
Lighting

1099: Lighting for Upstart Farmers

Light and lighting is hugely important for planning your vertical farm. Learn the fundamentals of lighting for Upstart Farmers in this course.

Upstart University

Upstart University