Los Angeles
Urban Farmer Training Program

Los Angeles County's only Farmer Training Program.
Learn to grow at our community farm in Pomona CA.

Hands-on Learning @ Sarvodaya Farms

Interested in learning how to care for soil, raise and care for plants, and grow food for community? Our Urban Farmer Training is designed to help people interested in transitioning to a career in urban agriculture and horticulture.

Our program centers the participation and leadership of people from strategically undervalued communities such as people of color, women, and the LGBTQ community.

Farmer Training is NOT a volunteer program. For Volunteer Opportunities, click here.

Testimonials from a few of our Trainees

(scroll to the right for more)

Foremost, I am in absolute gratitude to everyone who I got to know at the farm, particularly the instructors, Lauren, Ann-Marie, and Cyn. They made learning and being at the farm so enjoyable and welcoming. They definitely made me feel more confident in caring for the trees, the soil, and many of the other aspects of maintaining the farm. One of the highlights of being at the farm was when we had to dig up a Moringa tree. It took four people to be able to dig deep and wide enough to pull the tree from the ground. It confirmed for me that learning to care for trees, plants, the soil, and the land is a lifelong journey that involves working in community. So, now all that I learned is foundational to the way I care for my own garden which continues to grow. My hope for future trainees or even those contemplating in participating is that they are able to continue on their journey to building a relationship with the land, community, and themselves.

- Debbie Ortiz
Farmer Trainee 2024

It’s been a year and a half since I completed the Farmer Training Program at Sarvodaya Farms, and I look back at that time with fondness and gratitude. I felt a lot of joy in sharing work, stories, and meals together with the other trainees and volunteers.

I think there’s no shortage of reasons as to why gardening gets used as a metaphor for how a parent might view their relationship with their child. There’s this quote I love by Stephen Jenkinson, “We ruin the soil when we guarantee the crop.” At Sarvodaya, I learned to shift my focus from a “guaranteed crop” to nourishing the soil and creating spaces wherein all beings may thrive. Now, as a mom, I try to remind myself of this lesson often.

If you’re interested in joining any of the programs at Sarvodaya Farms, I would say to go for it and bring your family, friends, and neighbors along! How we treat the land is how we treat others and vice versa, so learning different ways of being in relationship/reciprocity with those we’re already in relationship with in our day-to-day is one place to start.

With my mom and my daughter, Amara
Kara Canlas, Farmer Trainee 2022

After completing the training program, I pursed a Master in Agriculture and became a food systems coordinator for an international NGO. I have been engaged with agriculture work over the last decade. Wherever I travel, I always make sure to pack the notebook I had with the notes from the Sarvodaya training program. It's packed with useful concepts and tips that have helped me support other smallholders in setting up market gardens and advise others on their kitchen gardens. Many of the foundational concepts around sustainable agriculture taught in the training program apply to any context. I have worked on multiple continents now and have found it useful whenever I visit different farms and discuss with farmers on various issues they come across.

- Chika Konda, Farmer Trainee 2017

I completed it in 2017, so it's been 7 years! Beyond learning the nuts and bolts of farming, the farm staff taught weekly lessons that really impacted my worldview on not just farming, but how farming fits into much bigger systems such as nutrition, water, indigeneity, ecology, liberation, and healing. The farming program enabled me to gain the skills to get a job teaching garden classes at local elementary schools through EnrichLA. And beyond that, even though I don't continue to work directly in the field, being part of the farmer training program continues to inform how I relate to plants, food, and the world. I have recommended friends who are interested in farming to join the farmer training program. In addition to real hands-on experience in a multitude of skills, you also get to become part of a community of people who are passionate about developing a different relationship to plants and food.

- Alexis Takahashi, Farmer Trainee 2017

After completing the training program, I pursed a Master in Agriculture and became a food systems coordinator for an international NGO. I have been engaged with agriculture work over the last decade. Wherever I travel, I always make sure to pack the notebook I had with the notes from the Sarvodaya training program. It's packed with useful concepts and tips that have helped me support other smallholders in setting up market gardens and advise others on their kitchen gardens. Many of the foundational concepts around sustainable agriculture taught in the training program apply to any context. I have worked on multiple continents now and have found it useful whenever I visit different farms and discuss with farmers on various issues they come across.

- Chika Konda, Farmer Trainee 2017

I completed my Farmer Training Program in August 2022 and I STILL think about the farm to this day.

Farmer Training for me was only the first step in creating a gardening practice and connection to the land. Sarvodaya isn't the biggest farm around, and the utilization of the land is inspiring. I've slowly decided to start gardening and planting vegetables in my own backyard because I yearn for the ability to grown my own food and get my hands dirty along the way. Being in the program has increased my desire to learn about agricultural practices in other countries. I travelled to Thailand, I joined a cooking class that was located on a farmstay and used ingredients they grew themselves.

Being on the farm pushes you to sit with impermanence in a very tangible way. Everything will die off eventually...and then they can be planted again. I also learned so much about how our fruits and vegetables are SUPPOSED to taste, like a proper tomato or berry.

As someone who is very new to gardening or farming, there is so much value to be able to learn alongside other folks, rather than isolated in your own garden at home.

- Jayda Shuavarnnasri
Farmer Trainee 2022

After completing the training program, I pursed a Master in Agriculture and became a food systems coordinator for an international NGO. I have been engaged with agriculture work over the last decade. Wherever I travel, I always make sure to pack the notebook I had with the notes from the Sarvodaya training program. It's packed with useful concepts and tips that have helped me support other smallholders in setting up market gardens and advise others on their kitchen gardens. Many of the foundational concepts around sustainable agriculture taught in the training program apply to any context. I have worked on multiple continents now and have found it useful whenever I visit different farms and discuss with farmers on various issues they come across.

- Chika Konda, Farmer Trainee 2017

What We Offer

At Sarvodaya Farms, we care for nearly 1 acre of fruit trees, CA native plants, fruiting bushes, vegetable fields, and a large & diverse stock of nursery plants. Our training program offers an opportunity for you to be part of the care and nourishment of our farm, and in the process gain experience to launch your farming journey.

Our program emphasizes the practice of urban farming as a means for community upliftment that also creates income and jobs for farmers.

Through our program you will learn:

Hands-on Farms Skills

- Soil care and management
- Irrigation development & maintenance
- Seed starting and plant propagation
- Plant care and maintenance
- Orchard establishment and maintenance
- Harvest and post-harvest processing

Community Farm Management Skills

- Creating a farm business plan
- Creating community impact through farming
- Farm finances and planning
- Licensing and permitting requirements
- Marketing and media skills

Program Pathways

To ensure this program is the right fit for your goals, we have clearly defined our priorities as a program. Our program focuses on community-centric agriculture rather than industrial or personal-use production.

We prioritize training for individuals looking to enter or lead in the following fields:

- Community Urban Farming: Managing shared spaces and high-density urban plots.

- Social Justice & Non-Profits: Food production centered on equity, food sovereignty, and community service.

- Small-Scale Production: Focused, intentional growing that supports local food systems.

- Community Nursery Operations: The business and science of plant propagation and nursery management to enhance community food security and encourage the development of habitat gardens

- Educational Farming: Leading school garden programs and agricultural education for youth and adults.

Our curriculum is specifically NOT tailored for:

- Production-Scale Agriculture: High-volume, industrial-style farming.

- Profit-Centric Farming: Operations where the primary and sole driver is financial gain.

- Homesteading & Permaculture: We focus on community-facing professional pathways rather than individual self-sufficiency or permaculture pyramid schemes.

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Program Structure

Our farmer training program is a comprehensive 16-week immersive experience designed to blend academic rigor with practical, dirt-under-the-fingernails experience. Over the course of 160 total hours, participants will transition from foundational theory to advanced field techniques.

Training Schedule

To ensure a balanced education, our weekly schedule is split between the classroom, the field, at-home learning:

- Wednesdays (10:00 am – 3:00 pm): Curriculum-based training led by lead trainer Farmer Rishi, focusing on the science and strategy of sustainable farming.

- Thursdays (10:00 am – 3:00 pm): Hands-on field training led by Farmer's Lauren and AnnMarie, where you will apply the week’s lessons in a real-world setting.

- Independent Study: Approximately 2 hours per week dedicated to online lessons and quizzes to reinforce your learning.

Field Trips

Beyond our home site, the program includes two mandatory site visits to local agricultural leaders: two local farms in Pomona and one in Los Angeles. Field trips will be held during the regular training schedule.

Certification Requirements & Attendance

To receive an official certification from our program, trainees must complete the following requirements:

- Attendance: No more unexcused absences than one Wednesday and two Thursdays. All absences must be made up to satisfy the 160-hour requirement for certification. Excused absences only include medical reasons or personal emergencies.

- Course Completion: Completion of all reading materials, all online course lessons and quizzes.

- Final Exam: Receive a passing score on the Training Program Final Exam which includes both written and hands-on components.

Program Fees

We are committed to making agricultural education accessible. Tiered pricing is based on household income:

- Community Support Tier: 2 spots available for $800.

- Standard Tier: 8 spots available on a sliding scale of $400 – $600.

- Equity Tier: 2 spots at $0
(requires a $200 deposit which is fully refunded upon successful completion of the program).

Upcoming Sessions and Timeline

We offer two cohorts per year with a limited size of 12 participants to ensure personalized instruction.

Spring/Summer Session

Application Deadline:
Feb 28, 2026

Decisions Announced:
March 10, 2026

Session Schedule:
Start: March 24, 2026
End: July 15, 2026

Fall/Winter Session

Application Deadline:
August 15, 2026

Session Schedule:
Start: September 15, 2026
End: January 27, 2026

Winter Session includes 3 weeks of holidays

We require all trainees to:

- Value Our Work and Our Staff: Maintaining a highly diverse and intricately balanced farm such as ours requires a vast array of skills. It's not rocket science, but it's just as complicated. Trainees must first understand that they are receiving training that is becoming more and more valuable in a society that lacks these skills and understandings.

- Contribute: We offer our programs at flexible fee rates to keep them accessible to the communities we want to serve.

- Commit: Our staff devotes significant time to creating and maintaining these programs. We require that trainees reciprocate our efforts by showing up when they've committed to, working hard and prioritizing their participation in their program.

Application Process

Complete the Online Application below by the application deadline for the session you are applying for.

You can download a PDF version of the application HERE to prepare your responses first before submitting them here.

Applications will be reviewed after the application deadline. We will accept 12 applicants, and waitlist 4 applicants. Please allow 1-2 weeks for our response to online applications.

WE ARE STILL FINALIZING APPLICATION QUESTIONS FOR SPRING/SUMMER SESSION.
PLEASE DO NOT FILL THE APPLICATION YET.

Start the Application

Los Angeles Urban Farmer Training Program

Los Angeles County's only Farmer Training Program. Learn to grow at our community farm in Pomona CA.