Practice of Organic Farming (Fall)

Note: This is the third 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 this three-quarter program, the Practice of Organic Farming (POF) will explore sustainable food production practices through an entire growing season -- beginning in spring, through the summer, and ending in the fall quarter.  We will learn practices tailored for the Pacific Northwest climate in order to maximize production on small-scale organic farms.  This program focuses on the scientific underpinning of sustainable and organic food production, with an emphasis on the critical thinking and observational skills needed to grow food using ecologically-informed methods. In addition, we will explore the farm management and business skills necessary to operate a farm.

We will study and work 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 physically rigorous and academically demanding.  It requires a willingness to work as a team outside in adverse weather on a schedule determined by the needs of crops and animals.