RUF™ & MUFN™: A Scalable, Container-Based Model for Regenerative Food Production and Community Resilience

This document provides a structured overview of the full Regenerative Urban Farming (RUF™) curriculum available at https://classroom.google.com/c/NzQwMjAyMzQxMzM5?cjc=iywxrfb.CODE:iywxrfb and its applied implementation within the Ma’at Urban Farm Network™ (MUFN™). This "Cliffs Notes" version outlines the full course framework, including module objectives, key concepts, assigned readings, and practical growing applications.

The document details nine instructional modules covering soil ecology, water systems, plant literacy, forgotten heritage crops (amaranth, Beni Imo, and Jerusalem artichokes), planting design, regenerative agricultural systems, garden maintenance, harvesting, preservation, and cooperative distribution. Each module integrates ecological science with historical and sociopolitical food analysis, particularly through required readings from Andrea Freeman’s Ruin Their Crops on the Ground.

In addition to curriculum structure, the document includes applied field results from implementation in Indianapolis (Zone 6a), demonstrating container-based regenerative production methods such as Hugelkultur High-Rise Gardens™, GroTubes, and fabric grow bags. It explains soil composition strategies, crop performance observations, harvest efficiency methods, and lessons learned from growing heritage crops within controlled urban systems.

The final section describes the broader vision of RUF™ as scalable distributed infrastructure through the Ma’at Urban Farm Network™, emphasizing decentralization, education, soil regeneration, and coordinated micro-site production.

Overall, the document serves as both a curriculum guide and a practical demonstration of how regenerative, culturally rooted agriculture can function as decentralized community infrastructure.

More about the Full Course: Regenerative Urban Farming (RUF™)

The Regenerative Urban Farming (RUF™) course was developed and delivered as a comprehensive education and training program designed to equip participants with practical, low-input strategies for producing food in urban and limited-space environments. The course combined ecological science, hands-on growing methods, and real-world case studies drawn directly from Ma’at Urban Farm Network™ (MUFN™) research sites.

The curriculum emphasized **regenerative principles**, including soil health, water conservation, biodiversity, perennial food systems, and decentralized production. Participants learned how to design, build, and manage Hugelkultur High Rise Gardens™ (HHRGs™), container systems, GroTubes™, and small in-ground plots using minimal external inputs. The course focused on crops well-suited for regenerative urban systems, including Jerusalem artichokes (SunfRoots™), amaranth, sweet potatoes, leafy greens, and companion plants.

Instruction was delivered through a **hybrid format**, including:

* Live and recorded online sessions
* In-person workshops and demonstrations
* Garden journals, pre- and post-assessments, and applied activities
* Hands-on work at MUFN™ sites and partner locations

The course was structured into **eight core modules**, covering:

* Introduction to Regenerative Urban Farming
* Soil Ecology
* Water Ecology
* Foundational Understanding of Plants
* Forgotten and Indigenous Foods
* Planting and Growing Basics
* Regenerative Agriculture Systems
* Natural Garden Maintenance and Harvesting

Over the course of delivery, it became clear that the depth and volume of material exceeded the expectations of many participants with no prior agricultural background. Based on participant feedback and observed learning challenges, the program was evaluated as **college-level in scope and rigor**. As a result, the course is being revised into two tracks:

1. an introductory program for beginners, and
2. a higher-level course intended for advanced learners, educators, and future instructors.

The RUF™ course served not only as an educational program but also as a mechanism for sharing research findings, including successful crop systems and documented failures. Participants were encouraged to apply lessons learned directly to their own growing spaces and to view regenerative farming as an adaptable, evolving practice rather than a fixed system.