11/21/2024 8:16:40 AM	SUAG 117 Course Outline as of Summer 2025	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  SUAG 117	Title:  ORG FRUIT TREE & BERRY
Full Title:  Organic Fruit Tree and Berry Production
Last Reviewed:10/11/2021

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	1.50	Lecture Scheduled	1.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	17.50
Minimum	1.50	Lab Scheduled	1.50		8 min.	Lab Scheduled	26.25
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	2.50			Contact Total	43.75
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  35.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 78.75

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly:  SUSAG 117

Catalog Description:

Students will learn about fruit tree and berry vine selection, planting, and care for small-scale orchard or home garden. Includes desirable varieties, site selection and preparation, soil and fertility management, pruning and training methods, harvest techniques and pest management. Emphasis on organic production methods.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

Students will learn about fruit tree and berry vine selection, planting, and care for small-scale orchard or home garden. Includes desirable varieties, site selection and preparation, soil and fertility management, pruning and training methods, harvest techniques and pest management. Emphasis on organic production methods.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:		Inactive:
Area:
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
CSU Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
UC Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Both Certificate and Major Applicable

COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Differentiate among the types of fruit trees and berries.

2. Identify suitable types of fruit trees and berries for Sonoma County.

3. Describe appropriate techniques for pruning, thinning, and harvesting fruit trees and berries.

 

Objectives:

At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Describe planting techniques for fruit trees and berries.

2. Identify desirable characteristics of a variety of fruit trees and berries.

3. Describe important soil and site characteristics for successful fruit tree and berry production.

4. Describe water and nutrient needs of a variety of fruit trees and berries.

5. Differentiate among common general pruning practices.

6. Describe harvest and storage requirements for various kinds of fruits and berries.

Topics and Scope

I. Varieties and Types of Fruit Trees and Berries

    A. Fruit trees

         1. Dwarf

         2. Semi-dwarf

         3. Standard

    B. Berries

         1. Bush

         2. Cane

         3. Vine

         4. Native

II. Cultural Care

    A. Site selection

         1. Climate and microclimate

         2. Soil - Types and preparation

         3. Chill and heat unit requirements

    B. Planting

         1. Methods

         2. Post-planting care

    C. Nutrients

         1. Requirements

         2. Types

         3. Application methods

    D. Water

         1. Soil/water relationship

         2. Watering requirements

         3.  Irrigation methods

         4. Water use efficiency

    E. Pest control methods

         1. Insects and mites

         2. Plant diseases

         3. Vertebrates

    F. Weed management

    G. Pruning and training

         1. Pruning methods

          2. General training (central leader, modified center leader, vase)

         3. Specific training (specie specific, espalier, hedges, establishment)

    H. Fruit thinning

III. Harvest Techniques and Storage Requirements

IV. Direct Marketing of Fruit and Berries

 

All topics covered in lecture are also covered in lab.

Assignments:

1. One design project: develop a written plan or presentation on selection, planting, care, harvest and related costs for one or more varieties of fruit tree or berry with minimum of five plants

2. Weekly reading (10 - 20 pages)

3. Quizzes (3 - 6)

4. Final exam (1)

5. Lab reports (4 - 8)

6. Weekly lab activities

7. Field trip(s) (1 - 2) and field trip report(s) for each

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 30 - 50%
Lab reports, Design project, Field trip report(s)
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 0 - 20%
Design project
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 30 - 50%
Quizzes, Final exam
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 5 - 20%
Weekly lab activities

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

The Home Orchard - Growing your Own Deciduous Fruit and Nut Trees. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Publication 3485. ANR Press. 2007 (classic)

Instructor prepared materials.

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