3-Month Farm Training Program

3-Month Farm Training Program

The Oko Farms Aquaponics Training Program is NYC’s only farm training initiative dedicated to both aspiring and seasoned growers. This engaging three-month program immerses participants in aquaponics, an ancient approach to agriculture that merges plant cultivation with fish farming. This integrated approach to farming provides a distinctive learning experience for beginning farmers and strengthens the skills of established growers.

WHO SHOULD JOIN?

This program is ideal for:

  • Aspiring farmers

  • Professional farmers

  • Educators

Importantly, no prior experience in aquaponics is required to enroll.

REQUIREMENTS

To participate, you need:

  • A commitment to complete the full program.

  • A willingness to engage with the community and share knowledge with others.

  • An open mind and flexibility to adapt to various tasks throughout the training.

Saturday Lectures (9:00am - 12pm)

  • Intro to Aquaponics (8/23)

  • Microbes + Nitrogen Cycle in AP (8/30)

  • Water Quality Parameters (9/13)

  • Fish Management and Welfare (9/27)

  • Plant Cultivation in AP (10/11)

  • Aquaponics Hardware + Design (10/25)

  • Field Trip (11/8)

PROGRAM FEE: $2500

**NOTE: Payment by monthly installment available. Email jess@okofarms.org for more information.

DURATION AND COMMITMENT:  August 23, 2025 - November 8 2025

Weekday Hands-on-Training (12 hours/week)

LOCATION: Oko Farms’ Bushwick and East Flatbush, Brooklyn locations.

PROGRAM COMPONENTS

  • FORMAL WORKSHOPS

    Trainees will receive formal workshops and experiential learning in areas including aquaponics systems hardware, technology, and design; educational applications for aquaponics; water quality parameters; record keeping; botany; crop planning, fish biology, welfare, selection, and nutrition; disease management; and best practices.

  • AQUAPONICS DESIGN + INSTALLATION

    Trainees will learn the design basics for aquaponics and will participate in a group project to design and construct a mini system for an apartment or backyard.

  • COMMUNITY EDUCATION

    Sustainable urban aquaculture via aquaponics is a relatively new practice to many people, particularly New York City residents. Trainees will participate in guided farm tours aimed at school groups and community members to increase their ability to speak comfortably about aquaponics farming.

  • HANDS-ON FARM WORK

    Trainees will participate in a variety of farm-related tasks to enhance their educational experience and empower them with skills to run their operations. These activities allow trainees to experience firsthand the subjects covered in the lecture: seed starting and transplanting; caring for livestock; pest and disease management (for livestock and plants); aquaponics hardware monitoring and maintenance; composting; harvesting, sorting and produce sales/donation.

3-MONTH FARM TRAINING 3-MONTH FARM TRAINING
3-MONTH FARM TRAINING
$2,500.00

This program is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, through the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under sub award number ENE25-189.