The Market Gardener Training Program (MGTP) is a training program offered by Ohio State University Extension's Urban Agriculture Program in Cuyahoga County. This ten week course will provide a foundation in urban agriculture and small business development to prepare participants to start their own enterprises growing produce and other agricultural products for market. Classes will meet Tuesday evenings, from 6:00 - 8:30pm - January 22, 2019 - March 26, 2019.

Participants may be eligible for a Gardening for Greenbacks Grant from the City of Cleveland.
 
 

Applications for 2019 Market Gardener Training Program are closed

 

 

In this training, participants will gain a strong foundation in:

  • Urban Agriculture

                 Soils/Nutrients

                 Crop Selection

                 Food Safety

  • Small Business Development
                Developing a Plan
 
                Market Research
 
                Business Structures
 
  • Direct Marketing
              Farmers’ Markets
 
              Restaurants
 
              Community Supported Agriculture
 
 
Since starting the program 8 years ago, 215 participants have graduated. Those graduates have gone on to start 57 market gardens for fruit and vegetable production and 35 have started other urban agriculture enterprises. Additionally, 22 new markets for produce have been established, including new farmers’ markets, farm stands, restaurants and CSA’s (Community Supported Agriculture).
 
If you would like to learn more about the program or to add your name to the interest list for the next session, please contact us at:
216-429-8200  ext. 217 .