2025 PROGRAM FAQs

What happened to the Citywide Certificate Program?

Our world has evolved since the start of FSNYC calling for FSNYC’s certificate program (formerly the Citywide Program) to adapt and change in ways that speak to present-day student needs and interests. We paused Citywide in 2023 to embark on a Re-Visioning process, the first of its kind since the program’s founding more than a decade ago, and we are now back with a new iteration.

The Certificate Program has expanded to include 3 components - Food Justice Foundations, Introduction to Land Stewardship, and Food & Land Immersions.  Together, the 3 components make up the Urban Agriculture Certificate. Pending funding, we will launch the full program in 2026.

Who are 2025 courses for?

Beginning and intermediate land and food justice stewards and advocates working along the entire food system. This includes chefs, educators, service workers, foodies, growers, parents, backyard gardeners and more!

If you are curious and excited to learn collaboratively, open to hands-on, popular education-based learning, commited to sharing knowledge gained with family, friends, peers, and community, we encourage you to join.

Who are 2025 Intro to Land Stewardship courses for?

  • Anyone who is interested in gaining the hands on skills to be a proficient steward of the land.

  • Citywide alumni who need to fulfill requirements for the following courses:

    • Growing Soils

    • Irrigation (now: Water is Life)

    • Crop Management

    • Botany and/or Propagation (now: Plant Beginnings)

Who are 2025 Food Justice Foundations (pilot courses) for?

  • Anyone who is interested in gaining  a deeper analysis of the food  and agriculture system within the U.S.  

  • People who are interested and willing to participate and give feedback to an evolving program.

Farm School NYC has a sliding scale tuition model. We use an honor system that allows students to self-select their tuition tiers. Learn more here.

What are tuition costs?

We are constantly refining the ways we support the well-being of our programs, students, and community. Below are some of the values and expectations we have for our community:

  • Care for ourselves and each other.  At the beginning of each class, we usually take a moment to step out of our busy lives and "ground" ourselves. This may look like stretching, breathing, or a similar activity.  

  • Embrace difference and diversity.  One way we do this is by sharing our gender pronouns when introducing ourselves. By doing this, we respect the breadth of gender and the way everyone identifies.

  • Lean into growth. It can hurt. Students are encouraged to engage with open hearts and minds. Transformation requires expanding our growing edge by sitting through discomforts that may arise in learning spaces.

  • Pass on the gift.  Knowledge and expertise do very little if kept to yourself. Because our model is popular education, we expect everyone to continue sharing with their wider communities. We are all teachers and learners.

What can I expect?

When are courses?

FSNYC’s programming calendar runs between March and October. Courses typically take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays depending on the program. Courses take place throughout the five boroughs. We share the address of the location beforehand with students that include instructions for entering the space.

FSNYC continues requiring masking and COVID rapid testing. Read more here!

What is your COVID policy?

I’ve taken Citywide Program courses before. How do I fit into the new program?

For students who have not yet completed Food Justice, Training of Trainers, and/or Learning the Land - we can accommodate you joining the program for those courses. There will be five slots available per course and every year for these students.

For students missing courses that are not being offered in 2025, FSNYC can share a letter of completion for the courses that you were able to complete in the years prior.

Can I still get a Citywide Program certificate?

Yes, former students missing course requirements for Food Justice, Crop Management, Botany, Irrigation, and Growing Soils can apply to take these courses in 2025. Reach out to programs@farmschoolnyc.org to discuss further.

How do I know if I am an alumni?

While many Citywide students did not complete the certificate program, we consider former students who have completed Food Justice, Training of Trainers, Learning the Land and 3 more core courses (not advanced or public) as Alumni. 

If you began Citywide and/or public courses at any time, you are considered part of our community. While this doesn’t exactly translate to alumni status, we encourage you to email programs@farmschoolnyc.org with any questions about your status or the courses you’ve completed.