Main Content
Learn practical strategies for conserving water, irrigating crops effectively, and managing water resources sustainably in urban gardens and farms.
Price
$45
Registration Closes
July 11, 2026
Course Start
July 12, 2026
Course End
August 2, 2026
Who Should Take This Course
This course is designed for people who are actively growing food in an urban setting, such as community gardeners, nonprofit farmers, and small/emerging commercial growers, including those with little or no formal agricultural training. Participants should currently have access to a garden or farm space, since course assignments will involve applying lessons to your own site.
Course Objectives
This course teaches the basics of water resource management for urban growers using research-backed practices taught by subject matter experts. You will learn how water moves through urban environments, how to conserve water, improve irrigation efficiency, manage stormwater runoff, and evaluate rainwater capture strategies for food-growing sites.
You will learn how to:
- Understand how water moves through urban environments and affects food-growing sites
- Identify water management challenges and opportunities on urban farm and garden sites
- Apply practical water conservation and irrigation efficiency strategies
- Evaluate options for safely capturing, storing, and reusing rainwater
- Develop a site-specific water management plan for your urban garden or farm
Course Format
This course combines online learning with hands-on practice:
- Online lessons (self-paced): Short videos and quizzes you can complete on your own time
- At-home activities: Apply what you learn to your own growing space
- Optional online office hours: Chat with the instructor about your questions in real-time online during designated office hours if you want extra support.
- One in-person workshop: Join us for an interactive, on-site workshop where you’ll help construct a drip irrigation system at an urban garden. You’ll see water conservation principles in action, learn about irrigation system components, and gain practical experience that you can apply to your own growing site. Further details will be shared with registered participants before the workshop.
Time Commitment
About 8-10 total hours over 3 weeks, including:
- ~2–3 hours of online lessons
- ~1.5 hours of at-home activities
- 4–6 hour in-person workshop
You can complete the online portion when it works for your schedule.
Meet Your Instructor
Amy Rowe, Ph.D., is an Agriculture and Natural Resources County Agent with Rutgers Cooperative Extension serving Essex and Passaic Counties. She earned her Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences from Rutgers University and has more than a decade of experience teaching and leading award-winning educational programs related to stormwater management, water quality, and sustainable resource management. Amy is passionate about helping communities use practical, science-based strategies to conserve resources and build more sustainable urban environments.
Why This Course Matters
Water is one of the most important resources for growing food. Effective water management can improve crop health, reduce costs, conserve resources, and help gardens and farms become more resilient during dry periods. This course helps you:
- Improve water efficiency and sustainability at your growing site
- Reduce water waste and better manage stormwater runoff
- Learn practical irrigation and water conservation techniques
- Build water management skills used in professional growing environments
What You’ll Walk Away With
By the end of the course, you will have:
- A basic water management plan that you have developed for your own site
- Practical water conservation and irrigation skills you can apply immediately
- Experience helping construct a drip irrigation system and understanding how its components work together
- A Rutgers certificate of completion to show your training and knowledge
- Connections with fellow growers and instructors who can share ideas, experiences, and encouragement
- Unlimited access to course content even after the course ends so you can reference helpful resources whenever you want
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to complete all coursework by the course end date to get my certificate?
Yes. You will need to complete all required coursework with a passing grade and participate in the in-person workshop by the course close date to receive your certificate of completion. Class lessons will be released during the first two weeks of the course; the third week is for you to catch up on any coursework you weren’t able to finish earlier.
If I don’t pass an assignment at first, can I fix it and resubmit it?
We are finalizing the workshop location now and will share confirmed details as soon as possible. We anticipate the workshop to be held within north or central Jersey this year.
Have more questions?
Contact Carenny Reyes.