Principles and Practices of Organic Agriculture

Catalog description

An introduction to the science, principles and practices of organic agricultural systems for food production. This natural sciences general education (GN) 3 credit course will teach students about the science of agroecology, with a focus on organic agriculture. We will examine the science, history and development of organic agriculture and its principles and practices. Students will learn about the scientific basis and implementation of fundamental organic farming principles and practices including soil health, diversified cropping systems, organic pest management, and a system perspective. We will also discuss certified organic regulations and policies, organic farming business management and marketing. Learning activities include: i) reading and discussing agricultural scientific articles, ii) listening to guest speakers and videos, iii) hands-on laboratory and greenhouse activities, iv) field trips and group projects. The only prerequisite for this course is a high school level biology or ecology course. This course can link with other courses that address the agricultural sciences, food systems, environmental resource management and policy, land use management and design, and natural resources.