Sustainable Agriculture

Catalog description

The course investigates global and local agriculture with an emphasis on small-scale highly diversified sustainable agriculture, and local food systems. Agriculture topics include the production of food from seed, harvesting and selling of crops, with a focus on vegetable row crops and other common grains. Students learn about the use of plants for cover crops, fiber, fuel, building materials, medicines and seed saving. Students gain direct experience with agriculture by growing an organic garden by using sustainable approaches without the use of synthetic fertilizers or toxic herbicides. Students visit local farms and / or hear guest lectures from local farmers about their approach and experiences in local food systems, and implement their insights in their projects.