Want to learn how to grow your own food or raise chickens in your backyard? How about expanding your interest to the growth of your own urban farming business?

Pinellas County Extension’s Urban Farming Small-to-Large is an event in early February that will cover everything from the backyard to the market. The urban farming conference is the first of its kind in Pinellas County.

Urban farming promotes self-sufficiency, sustainable living and the efficient use of space. By attending the conference, individuals will learn the latest trends in hydroponic vegetable gardening, backyard chickens and integrated pest management - the economic control of pests with minimal environmental impact.

The morning sessions, geared to homeowners and commercial farmers will include:

• Overview of hydroponic systems
• Chickens 101
• Integrated pest management

The afternoon schedule with a focus on commercial urban farming will include:

• Getting started, business planning and cost analysis
• Cottage industry regulations and marketing
• Protected agriculture practices

Pinellas County Extension is a partnership between Pinellas County government and the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences as part of a nationwide network of land grant universities. The University of Florida is an equal access/equal opportunity institution.

For more information, please visit Pinellas County Extention.