Practice of Organic Farming: Culture and Agriculture (Fall)

Note: This is the third and final quarter of a spring-summer-fall program.

Do you want to know what it takes to produce food for yourself, your family, and others in your community? In the Practice of Organic Farming Program, students learn what it takes to grow food and feed yourself and others every day throughout the year? This three-quarter program will explore sustainable food production practices through an entire growing season, beginning in spring, through the summer and ending in the fall quarter, and how those practices are tailored for the Pacific Northwest climate in order to maximize production. Our focus will be on small-scale organic production, but we will compare and contrast that system to other production systems. This program focuses on the scientific underpinning of sustainable and organic food production, with an emphasis on theory to practice, critical thinking, and observation skills necessary to grow food using ecologically informed methods. In addition, we will explore the farm management and business skills necessary to operate a small-scale farm.

We will be studying and working at the Evergreen Organic Farm through an entire growing season, focusing on theory to practice topics ranging from seed propagation to harvest, and on to the market. The farm includes a small-scale direct market stand and CSA, as well as a variety of other demonstration areas. All students will work on the farm every week to gain practical experiential learning. This program is rigorous physically and academically and requires a willingness to work outside in adverse weather on a schedule determined by the needs of crops and animals.

During the Fall quarter we will focus will be on farm conservation planning, successional crop planning, crop rotation planning, food storage techniques, seed saving practices, and cover crops, and continuing with soil quality assessments and market analysis. Additional topics covered throughout the program will include record keeping for organic production systems, alternative crop production systems, techniques for adding value to farm and garden products, hand-tool use and maintenance, and farm equipment safety. We will also include communication and conflict resolution skills needed to work effectively in small groups.

Topics will be explored through on-farm workshops, seminar discussions, lectures and laboratory and field exercises, and field trips. Expect weekly reading and writing assignments, extensive collaborative group work, and a variety of hands-on projects. The final project in fall will be a detailed farm and business plan which integrates all the topics covered in the program. Books may include The Market Gardener by Fortier, and  Building Soils for Better Crops  3rd ed. by Magdoff and van Es;

Students who need to request disability accommodation should contact the faculty or Access Services Program Coordinator   Steve Schmidt   (L2153, 360.867.6348; or TTY 360.867.6834) prior to the start of the quarter. If you require accessible transportation for field trips, please contact the faculty well in advance of field trip dates to allow time to arrange this.