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Upon successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
1. Relate the methods of scientific investigation to agricultural
productivity.
2. Define the nature of scientific inquiry.
3. Describe the values, themes, methods, and history of sustainable
agriculture regionally and worldwide.
4. Define sustainable agriculture.
5. Describe the characteristics of a natural ecosystem.
6. Compare and contrast the properties of natural ecosystems, sustainable
agroecosystems, and conventional agroecosystems.
7. Evaluate the role of soil fertility in an ecological production system.
8. Discuss the principles and strategies of sustainable agriculture.
9. Optimize the use of water to promote an ecological use of resources.
10. Summarize the ecological roles of plants and their functional
relationships to an agroecosystem.
11. Assess an agroecosystem for its level of sustainability based on
indicators of a sustainable system.
12. Prescribe ways of converting to a sustainable system through the
redesign of a conventional agroecosystem.
13. Identify career opportunities and objectives in sustainable
agriculture.
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I. Introduction to Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture
A. What is sustainable agriculture?
B. Terms related to sustainability
C. Common themes of sustainable agriculture
D. The three "E's of sustainability
1. Economic viability
2. Environmental health
3. Equity (social)
II. Concepts of Agroecology and Sustainability
A. Agroecology as a science
1. The nature of scientific inquiry
2. Application of the scientific method to problem solving
3. Ecological imperative for sustainable agriculture
4. Global impacts of sustainable agriculture
B. Ecosystem characteristics
1. Natural ecosystems
2. Sustainable agroecosytems
3. Conventional agroecosystems
C. Ecological Principles
1. Niche
2. Succession
3. Biological diversity
4. Applications of niche theory to agriculture
D. Steps in the ecological design process
1. Observation
2. Visioning
3. Planning
4. Development
5. Implementation
E. Natural patterns in the garden
III. History of Sustainable Agriculture
A. Worldwide
B. United States
1. 1980 - 1990
2. 1990- present
C. Regionally
D. Advent of modern agriculture
E. Modern agriculture in crisis
F. Why conventional agriculture is not sustainable
G. Barriers to Developing Agricultural Sustainability
1. Ecological
2. Social
3. Economic
IV. Principles of Sustainable Agriculture
A. Soil fertility and nutrient cycling
B. Enhancing and maintaining biological diversity
C. Integrated pest management (IPM)
D. Input reduction
E. Water management
F. Conservation of natural resources
G. Ecosystem (agroecosystem) management
H. Benefits of a sustainable agroecosystem
1. Genetic diversity
2. Productivity
3. Resilience
4. Low reliance on external input
V. Achieving Sustainability
A. Learning from existing agroecological systems
1. Biological agriculture
2. Nature farming
3. Organic agriculture
4. Biodynamic agriculture
5. Permaculture
B. Converting to sustainable practices
VI. Specific Strategies
A. Soil fertility & nutrient cycling
1. Healthy soil is a key component of sustainability
2. Soil as a "living" medium
a. Soil minerals
b. Macro and micro nutrients
c. Signs of nutrient deficiency
B. Soil fertility
1. Physical properties of soil
2. Methods to protect and enhance soil microbiology and productivity
a. Regular additions of organic matter
i. humus
ii. compost and/or manures
iii. mulch
iv. cover cropping for fertility
b. Regular soil testing and analysis
c. Cover cropping for fertility
d. Reduced tillage
e. Avoid traffic on wet soils
C. Water management
1. Use of water in agriculture
a. Ecology of irrigation
b. Optimizing use of the water resource
2. Water in the soil
a. Soil moisture
b. Water holding capacities
i. saturation
ii. field capacity
iii. wilting point
3. Water-conserving methods
a. High organic matter content
b. Deep mulching
c. Water-conserving plants
d. Dense planting
e. Soil contouring
i. swales
ii. contours
4. Water catchment
a. Harvest and storage of rainwater
b. Using greywater
E. Enhancing and maintaining biological diversity
1. Plants uses
a. Multipurpose plants
b. Ecological roles of plants
i. mulch makers
ii. nutrient accumulators
iii. nitrogen fixers
iv. soil fumigants and pest repellants
v. insecting plants
vi. spike roots
vii. wildlife nurturers
viii. shelterbelters
2. Annuals and perennials
a. Perennial vegetables
b. Herbs
c. Greens
3. Roots and tubers
4. Microclimates
5. Plant communities
a. Interplanting /intercropping
b. Polyculture
c. Plant guilds
b. Habitat strips and hedgerows
F. Integrated pest management (IPM)
1. Attracting beneficial insects
a. Predatory insects
b. Parasitic insects
c. Pollinators
d. Weed feeders
2. Attracting birds
a. Food
b. Water
c. Shelter
d. Protection
e. Habitat diversity
3. Use of other animals
a. Chickens
b. Ducks
c. Rabbits
d. Other livestock species
G. Input reduction (efficient use of inputs)
1. Maximize reliance on natural, renewable and on-farm inputs
2. Not simple input substitution
3. Assess situations where the use of synthetic chemicals would be
more "sustainable"
4. Goal: develop efficient, biological systems which do not need high
levels of material inputs
H. Conservation of natural resources
1. Wildlife habitat
2. Energy
3. Air
I. Ecosystem (agroecosystem) management
J. Animal Husbandry
1. Variety selection and animal reproduction
2. Select appropriate stock for farm or ranch resources
3. Grazing and range management
4. For herd health and productivity
5. For environmental quality
6. For biodiversity conservation
7. Integrating crop and livestock production
8. National Organic Program (NOP) standards
VII. Case Studies
A. National perspective
B. Local case studies
VIII. Career Opportunities in Sustainable Agriculture
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Representative assignments may include and may not be limited to:
1. Specific reading and study assignments from texts, handouts, and
internet sites (15-30 pages per week).
2. Applications of scientific method that may include:
a. analyze agricultural productivity in conventional vs. sustainable
systems and write a 2-3 page report on findings
b. formulate and test hypotheses regarding soil fertility in a
production system
c. evaluate scientific testing of the effects of cover crops or
intercropping
d. evaluate and compare conventional vs. organic system field trials
(based on field trips to Shone Farm Vineyard)
3. Develop a soil fertility enhancement plan (2-3 pages).
4. Prepare a written evaluation of a local farm's level of sustainability,
using the indicators of a sustainable system (3-5 pages).
5. Conduct interviews with farmers for case studies.
6. Write 2-3 case studies based on interviews, 3-5 pages each.
7. Quizzes, midterm, final exam.
