This award provides a partially ARP funded grant to the common good city farm's certificate program in regenerative urban agriculture to focus on reducing the impact of agriculture on the…

This award provides a partially ARP funded grant to the common good city farm's certificate program in regenerative urban agriculture to focus on reducing the impact of agriculture on the environment by educating participants in practical, hands-on, evidence-based techniques, with a specific focus on soil carbon sequestration in agriculture as part of their certificate program in regenerative urban agriculture. Focusing on marginalized communities within the washington, DC metropolitan region, this proposal plans to expand this educational opportunity to high school students who are studying biotechnology or interested in careers in agriculture. The project aims to increase the number of urban farmers using soil carbon sequestration and regenerative agriculture techniques; increase the number of urban farms and farmers; and reduce vehicle miles traveled to obtain food by producing IT locally. The recipient does not intend to subaward funds. Activities:common good city farm's certificate program in regenerative urban agriculture focuses on reducing the impact of agriculture on the environment through 80 hours of educational time in practical, hands-on, evidence-based techniques, as well as specific focus on soil carbon sequestration in agriculture. Project activities include: train local urban farmers in year one; including youth participants in year two; and add a training of trainers (TOT) model in year three to expand geographical reach. In year one, the certificate program has recruited a cohort of 12 beginning farmers in washington, DC. In year two, the number of end users expands significantly, including over 60 participants recruited in washington, DC. In year three, the program expands further to include former participants who want to become trainers through a TOT program allowing for expansion potential across more sites and geographic areas.subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:the certificate program in regenerative urban agriculture and training of trainers (TOT) will be able to educate 120 people over the next three years in regenerative agriculture techniques. This grant will fund year one of this effort. The target audience is people growing food in the washington, DC metropolitan region, with a focus on those from marginalized communities. These farmers will have the knowledge and skills required to substantially increase carbon sequestration in their farm's soil as well as increase the amount of produce grown locally through increased soil health. They will address food access issues, distributing the produce grown at common good city farm using regenerative agriculture techniques through our weekly farm market. Through gearing this program for urban farms, the students will also address food access issues in their own neighborhoods.