Market Gardening Course at AuroOrchard, Auroville
Amid growing food crises, shifting from large-scale industrial farming to smaller, community-focused farming offers a sustainable solution. This market gardening course equips traditional and new farmers to work with natural cycles for year-round food production, directly serving local markets and consumers. Designed for aspiring farmers and those wanting to diversify food production, the course delivers practical agroecological farming skills, sustainable crop planning, and farm design knowledge. Participants benefit from 13 online sessions and an optional 4-week residential practicum at AuroOrchard, Auroville’s 57-year-old organic community farm cultivating diverse vegetables and fruits year-round. This course is ideal for those passionate about sustainable, small-scale farming in India seeking tools, knowledge, and community to build thriving market gardens.
Learning Highlights and Outcomes
- Comprehensive framework for designing and managing ecologically sound, socially responsible, and financially sustainable market gardens
- Practical skills in soil health, crop and water management, integrated pest control, harvesting, and marketing
- Ability to produce diverse and continuous year-round harvests
- Access to crop planning tools and context-specific design strategies tailored to Indian conditions
- Immersive learning through real-world case studies and peer-to-peer knowledge exchange
- Development of a personalized market garden project plan with ongoing expert feedback
- Membership in a supportive peer network of market gardeners advancing agroecological farming in India
Who Should Enroll?
- Farmers looking to enhance or expand their organic or sustainable farms.
- Individuals and communities aiming to start or diversify market gardening projects.
- Anyone committed to healthy, chemical-free food production and environmental care.
