We cover basic and advanced growing techniques, crop planning, microgreens growing, management, marketing and even topics like farmer care. Check out the complete syllabus below.

Course Structure

Lesson 1: Farm design

Lesson 2: Infrastructure

Lesson 3: Soil health and fertility

Lesson 4: Growing strategies

Lesson 5: Propagation and seeding

Lesson 6: The top crops

Lesson 7: Growing microgreens

Lesson 8: Crop planning

Lesson 9: Irrigation

Lesson 10: Pest and disease management

Lesson 11: Tunnel house design and season extension

Lesson 12: Marketing

Lesson 13: Management

Lesson 14: Accounting and financial planning

Lesson 15: Health and Safety

Lesson 16: Farmer care

Yotam openly shares his 17 years of horticultural experience as a teacher, operator and manager. The information in this course is our most precious resource, and what enables us to yield over 10 tons of produce from a 1/3 acre of land with gross sales of over $120,000 of greens and vegetables a season, using organic and regenerative no-till methods. In this course, you will find all the information we would have loved to know and have access to when we started our market garden.

What participants say about this course

"If you have aspirations of becoming a small market gardener then I highly recommend this course. Yotam is a very generous and passionate tutor who willingly shares his knowledge and experience in growing vegetables. The course is extremely well structured taking you from the beginning of garden design and set-up, through crop selection and growth and ending with the marketing and financial aspects of running a commercial venture. The course material provided is extensive and all my questions were answered either within the material provided or through the weekly live tutorials conducted by Yotam. This course gives you all the information you need to know - then it's over to you to make it happen!" Wendy Averis

“Firstly I just want to say thank you for all the information in your online course...I’m finding it super helpful in setting up a little market garden for the 1st time.” Jess

“I am really enjoying the course and am so impressed with what you are doing and what you have created, very inspiring and thank you for sharing your knowledge and enthusiasm!” Cordelia

"This course was the perfect way to connect with fellow growers during another lock down. Yotam is such a joyful passionate person with an incredible depth of knowledge and understanding of how to create a small-scale market garden using permaculture and regenerative means. The course covers everything from crop planning to pest management and getting fresh produce to customers. Whether you are just starting out with a vision of the garden you want to build or a long time gardener looking to level up and get your fresh organic produce into the community, this course will give you the clarity and confidence to start taking action!". Michelle K.

“Really enjoying the course, so well put together and explained.” John

"I am fairly new to gardening but am really passionate about our environment and striving to become as self sufficient as possible. I would love to have a market garden to blend passion with work in the future so when I saw this course advertised I couldn't pass up the opportunity to learn. This course was absolutely amazing for information from start to finish on the process of setting up, running, managing and being successful in the market gardening business. I really appreciate the information and expertise that was given; Yotam is always so happy to answer any questions and provide really great insight. I also learned a lot from other participants in our weekly meetings as many other students are already on the path to market gardening. The learning platform is so well set up with modules and easy to access and understand information, it even has optional assignments that would help even further when in the process of starting up. This course is well worth it if you are seriously considering a market garden." Sarah Scott

“We have finished the course today in the morning and it has been a highlight of our day when we read it together. It is really well written and easy to understand. Every time we are working hands on we can refer to the information we got from the course.” Thiago and Renata

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the course start and finish?

The course starts on the 13th of May 2023. All of the course material will be accessible until 7th May 2024.

Do I have to join the live weekly sessions?

Although we recommend you do, you don't have to join them. You can view the recording at any time that is convenient for you.

How much time should I expect this course to take?

While it highly depends on your level of engagement with the material, we recommend dedicating 3 to 6 weekly hours to get the most out of the course. This time includes the live weekly session, reading the material, watching course videos, participating with the learning community and allowing time for completing the optional assignments. If you are short of time during the course, you can complete reviewing the material and complete the assignments at a later date.

How do the assignments work?

The assignments have been designed to help you set up critical systems to gradually build a successful market gardening business. They are not evaluated, not mandatory, and can be completed at your own pace.

The assignments vary in length and format. Some assignments are design exercises, and others include developing infrastructure and garden practicals.

How can I ask questions that I have?

You can ask questions and receive answers in several ways. The best way is to come to the weekly live session. Alternatively, you can submit your question before the class, and Yotam will answer it there.

You can also ask questions in the groups' private Facebook group and receive answers from fellow and past students.

Who is this course for?

This course is primarily for aspiring market gardeners. You can establish a market garden to suit the scale and intensity that works for you. Whether you want to sell vegetables from your backyard, lifestyle block or grow on 5 acres. In all these situations, you will benefit significantly from the information and advice laid out in the course, and you will be able to ask questions and receive expert advice.

Is this course suitable if I am not in NZ?

Yes. The vast majority of the content in this course is suitable for gardeners from both hemispheres, not just New Zealand and Australia, as the art of small-scale market gardening is universal.

The main strategies and techniques illustrated in this course are applicable in many parts of the world, but the examples and suppliers provided are specific to New Zealand. In the main text, all of the figures appear in the Metric System and the Imperial System. The figures in the appendixes and tables are currently only in the Metric System.

I am not sure I am ready to commit to establishing a market garden, is this course for me?

It is the perfect course to take if you question the suitability of this trade with your context and life goals. In this course, you will learn all about this trade, what you need to know, and what skills you need to develop to be able to market garden successfully.

How quickly can I start making a living from my market garden?

It depends a lot on your previous gardening and business background. While market gardening is highly accessible for anyone to start, it is best viewed as a long term career move, as there are many aspects of the trade that takes years to master. Although you can establish a market garden quickly and get sales coming in within a few weeks (we had students that made over $50,000 in sales in their first season with no previous growing experience!), like many small businesses, it can take 2 to 3 years to reach financial stability.

I have started growing and selling produce, but I want to upskill, is this course for me?

Market gardening is a skilled occupation, and it takes years to fully master it. Many gardeners have got the growing part relatively sussed out, but are lacking in business management, marketing and creating systems for smooth operations. This course will help fill in any gaps in your knowledge and skillset, so you can maximise the potential of your market garden operation.

Is this course suitable for home gardeners or community groups?

While there is valuable information in this course for gardeners at every scale, this course primarily focuses on making a living from gardening, and we cover in-depth all the systems that support this goal.

Please check out our home gardening online course, The Abundant Garden, on our website.

What size land do I need to take part in this course?

Having access to a garden plot will help you complete the recommended assignments and practise the techniques. While having access to 1/4 acre will allow you to operate a full-scale market garden, a garden of 50 square metres (538 square feet) will allow you to follow all the assignments and practice your growing skills.

We recommend that your garden is easily accessible to you and that it gets full-sun exposure (8 hours of direct sunlight).

Can I enrol and take the course with a friend?

The course enrolment is for one person to join the program. You are welcome to invite another person in your household to join the online live sessions with you on the same device. If a friend wants to join the course they will need to enrol separately.

How is this course compared to a horticultural course?

This is not your average horticultural course, and the focus is not on theoretical aspects of plant biology. Instead, this course is focused on proven strategies, practical skills and task-specific information. The course is specifically catering for small growers, based on a working model which we have been refining since 2014.

What if I am unhappy with the course?

If you are unsatisfied with your investment, contact us in the first 14 days, and we will give you a full refund.

I have a question, how do I contact you?

We are always happy to answer questions. Please email us at [email protected]

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