Course Syllabus
Week 1: Sustainability Concepts
Additional Resources:
- Sustainable Agriculture_ An Introduction Earles, R. & Williams, P. Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas, USDA, 2005
Week 2: Developing Your Whole Farm Plan
Reading for discussion:
- What is Sustainable Agriculture what_is_sustainable_agriculture Sustainable Agriculture Network Publication, USDA, 2003
- Applying Principles of Sustainable Agriculture ATTRA applying-principles-of-sustainable-farming-attra
Whole Farm Plan Templates:
- Whole Farm Plan Template
- Whole Farm Plan Template_espanol
- Whole Farm Plan Examples
Additional Resources:
- indicators-of-sustainability Janke, R.R. Kansas State University Publication. 2000
- holistic-management Holistic Management: A Whole Farm Decision Making Framework. Sullivan, P. Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas, USDA, 2001.
- whole-farm-planning-for-economics-and-environment D. Mulla, L. Everett, and G. DiGiacomo. Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture. 1998.
- whole-farm-planning-at-work
- successful-whole-farm-planning :Successful Stories of Ten Farms.The Minnesota Project, 1998. Pages 16-19, 27-30.
Week 3: Evaluation of Resources & Enterprise Assessment
Reading for discussion:
- New Organic Grower Chapter 2, 3
- Market Farming Success Chapter 3
Additional Resources:
- resources-evaluating-a-rural-enterprise P. Sullivan & L. Greer, Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas, USDA, 2002
- resources-decision-making-for-part-time-farmers D S. Barao & J. Hughes, Maryland Cooperative Extension, University of Maryland, 1999
- washington-water-rights-for-agricultural-producers Washington Water Rights for Agricultural Producers
- landownerguide_waterrights
- WA_OrganicStats_2018
- WA_Agriculture_annual bulletin 2017
- organic-trends-washington-state Organic Trends in Washington State
Week 4: Sustainable Crop Production
Reading for discussion:
- New Organic Grower Chapter 7
- Market Farming Success Chapter 5
Additional Resources:
Week 5: Ecological Soil Management
Reading for discussion:
- Market Farming Success Chapter 6
Additional Resources:
- soil-fertility-in-organic-systems WSU Bulletin
- soil-testing-for-farms-with-diverse-vegetable-crops WSU Bulletin
- Making and Using Compost on Rodale Farm. http://www.newfarm.org/features/0804/compost/index.shtml
- fertilizing-with-manure Fertilizing with Manure, A. Bary, C. Cogger, and D. Sullivan. Pacific Northwest Extension Publication, PNW0533.
- Soil Health and Organic Farming: Organic Practices for Climate Mitigation, Adaptation, and Carbon Sequestration
- https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/2073/2014/09/Soil-Testing-for-Farms-with-Diverse-Vegetable-Crops.pdf
- https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/sites/catalog/files/project/pdf/em9251.pdf
- https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/2074/2019/01/Soil-Fertility-in-Organic-Systems-1.pdf
- https://eorganic.info/node/8245
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dk_EskG8lbk&feature=youtu.be
Week 6: Integrated Pest and Weed Management
Reading for discussion:
- integrated-pest-mgmt-effective-options-for-farmers Menzies, G., C. MacConnell, & D. Havens, Washington State University Publication. 1995
- An Organic Weed Control Toolbox Mark Schonbeck, Virginia Association for Biological Farming
- New Organic Grower Chapter 16
- Introduction to Weed Management in a Small Scale Organic Production System– Video UCSC CASFS
Additional Resources:
- A_Whole-Farm_Approach_to_Managing_Pests . M. Fritz & V. Berton, Sustainable Agriculture Network, USDA, 2003.
- biointensive-integrated-pest-mgmt
- farmscaping-to-enhance-biological-control
- sustainable-weed-mgmt-for-croplands
- weed-mgmt-for-organic-farmers
- plant-diseases
Week 7: Marketing Strategies
Reading for discussion:
- Market Farming Success Chapter 6
Additional Resources:
Week 8: Sustainable Livestock & Poultry
- 2019 Sustainable Farming and Livestock Management 2019
- Animal Production Considerations and Resources
Reading for Discussion:
- New Organic Grower Chapter 24
Additional Resources:
- sheep-sustainable-and-organic-production
- small-ruminant-sustainability-checksheet
- sustainable-beef-production
- profitable-poultry
- http://newfarm.rodaleinstitute.org/columns/newranch/2004/0904/index.shtml
- Fencing Materials for Livestock Systems, Gay, S. ,and R. Heidel, Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2003.
- Sheep 201: A Beginner’s Guide to Raising Sheep – Housing. S. Schoenian, Maryland Cooperative Extension, Revised, 2005. http://www.sheep101.info/201/housing.html
Week 9: Enterprise Budgets
Reading for discussion:
- New Organic Grower Chapter 5
- New Organic Grower Chapter 12, 13
- using-enterprise-budgets-to-make-decisions-about-your-farm R. Carkner, A Pacific Northwest Extensions Publication, Washington State University
Additional Resources:
- Enterprise Budgets and Production Costs for Organic Production, Born, Holly, ATTRA Publication #RL041, May 2004. enterprisebudgets
- Agricultural Alternatives: Enterprise Budget Analysis. Penn State Cooperative Extension Publication. 1994. http://extension.psu.edu/business/ag-alternatives
- 2011 Costs Estimates of Producing Fresh Market Field-Grown Head Lettuce in Western Washington
- costs-of-cheesemaking-pdf.pdf_1
- Enterprise budget High tunnel tomatoes Western WA
- enterprise_budget_mixed_organic_berries_vancouver_island_2013
- Crop Costing Tool from Oregon Tilth
- http://www.terra-genesis.com/the-power-of-enterprise-budgets-permaculture-holistic-management-and-financial-planning/
Field Trip 2: Equipment and Facilities
Reading for Discussion:
- Market Farming Success Chapter 4
- New Organic Grower Chapter 21
Additional Resources:
Thought Process in Selecting Equipment for the Small Farm. Macher, R.E. Small Farm Digest Volume 6, No.1. Fall/Winter 2002/2003. Tools for Agriculture: A guide to appropriate equipment for smallholder farmers http://www.fastonline.org/CD3WD_40/JF/417/06-256.pdf- Paddock Design, Fencing, and Water Systems for Controlled Grazing, R. Morrow. Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas, USDA, 2005. http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/paddock.pdf
Livestock Watering Systems, B. Smith. Area Extension Educator, Clemson University. - Portable Field Hoophouse, C. Miles, P. Labine, Washington State University Cooperative Extension. EB1825, 1997 http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/em015/em015.pdf
- Agricultural Building Equipment Plan List, University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service PB 1590.
Three drip irrigation sites, two with tutorials:Drip Irrigation Information and resource links on the WSU Small Farms Team web site.http://smallfarms.wsu.edu/crops/irrigation/
Drip Irrigation for a Market Garden, How to Tutorials about Drip Irrigation, Drip Irrigation.ca, http://www.dripirrigation.ca - Jess Stryker has a great tutorial site on drip irrigation, pumps, and more. Jess is a landscape architect with years of experience in landscape design and irrigation installation. http://www.irrigationtutorials.com/
Irrigation on a larger scale (center pivot, flood, furrow, sprinkler, etc):Crop irrigation Publications, Colorado State University: http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/pubs.html#water_irr - Irrigation Systems for Idaho Agriculture, Neibling, H., University of Idaho, CIS 1055, 1997.http://www.cals.uidaho.edu/edComm/pdf/CIS/CIS1055.pdf
- Greenhouses for Year-Round Food and Farming, Olender, K., The New Farm, 2005. Part 1: http://www.newfarm.org/features/2005/0305/gh1/index.shtml
Part 2:Construction details http://www.newfarm.org/features/2005/0305/gh2/index.shtml
Week 10: Thanksgiving Break
Week 11: Tools for Success & Final Presentations
Additional Resources:
- Agricultural Alternatives: Starting or Diversifying an Agricultural Business. Kime, L., Roth, S., & Harper, J. Penn State Cooperative Extension. http://agalternatives.aers.psu.edu/Publications/StartingAgBusiness%20PM7.pdf
- Conduct Your Own Garden Research, CIS 1041. V.J. Parker-Clark & E.J. Bechinski, University of Idaho Cooperative Extension, 1999http://www.cals.uidaho.edu/edComm/pdf/CIS/CIS1041.pdf
- The Food Alliance web site www.foodalliance.org
En Español
1. Conceptos de Sostenibilidad
Que_es_la_Agricultura_Sustentable
Actividad: Explorando la Sostenibilidad en la Agricultura
Lección: Conceptos de Sostenibilidad
Presentación: Estudiando la Sostenibilidad Agrícola PDF | PPT
Presentación: Sostenibilidad Aplicada en la Granja PDF | PPT
2. Plan Total de la Granja
Asignación: Desarrollar la Declaración de Metas del Plan Total de la Granja
Asignación: Identificando sus Intereses y Habilidades Agrícolas
Hoja de Ejercicios: Plan Total de la Granja
Lección: Plan Total de la Granja
Presentación: Plan Total de la Granja – Desarrollando las Metas del “Plan Total de la Granja” PDF | PPT
3. Evaluación de Recursos
Asignación: Oportunidades y Desafíos Regionales para su Granja
Hoja de Ejercicios: Hoja de Evaluación de Recursos de la Granja o Rancho
Hoja de Ejercicios: Mapa del Inventario de la PropiedadLección: Evaluación de Recursos
Presentación: Evaluacion de Recursos PDF | PPT
4. El Mercados es Todo
Asignación: Investigando Estrategias de Mercadeo Directo
Asignación: Observación y Análisis del Mercado de Agricultores
Lección: Mercadeo Directo
Presentación: Aprovechando la Ventaja Sostenible a través de Mercado Directo PDF | PPT
Presentación: Mercados y Tendencias de los Consumidores PDF | PPT
Presentación: Venda lo que Cultiva PDF | PPT
5.Evalución de la Empresa
Hoja de Ejercicios: Evaluación de Requisitos para una Empresa
Lección: Evaluación de una EmpresaPresentación: Producción de Animales PDF | PPT
Presentación: Producción de Cultivos PDF | PPT
Presentación: Recurso para Evaluar su Empresa Pequeña PDF | PPT
6. Técnicas para la Producción de Cultivos Sostenibles
Presentación: Manejo de Cultivos PDF | PPT
7. Manejo Ecologico de Suelos
Lección: Manejo Ecoló de Suelos
Presentación: Compostiaje y el Uso de Compost PDF | PPT
Presentación: Introducción a la Ciencia del Suelo en la Agricultura Sostenible PDF | PPT
8. Producción Sostenible de Ganado y Aves de Corral
Asignación: Investigando las Maneras
Lección: Producción Sostenible de Ganado y Aves
Presentación: Producción Animal – Resumen General de Producción Animal en Granjas Pequeñas PDF | PPT
9. Manejo el Pastoreo en Pocos AcresLección: Manejo de Pastoreo Sostenible en Granjas Pequeñas
Presentación: Manejo de Pastizales – Sistemas a Base de Pastos PDF | PPT
10. Presupuesto para la Empresa
Asignación: Desarrollar un Presupuesto Empresarial – ¿Obtendrá Ganancias?
Hoja de Ejercicios: Plan de Cultivo
Lección: Presupestos EmpresarialesPlan de Cultivos MF
11. Herramientas para Lograr Exito
Hoja de Ejercicios: Sistema de Mantenimiento de Registros
Lección:Herramientas para Lograr Éxito en la Granja Entera
Presentación: Juntando la Información – ¿Cual es el Siguiente Paso que Debo Tomar? PDF | PPT
Presentación: Evaluando la Sostenibilidad de su Granja PDF | PPT