UMass Amherst: Certificate in Sustainable Food and Farming

[Future Harvest - CASA]

PLEASE VISIT THE FOLLOWING LINK FOR ACCESS TO CLASS DESCRIPTIONS, ETC:
http://www.umassulearn.net/programs/green-programs/sustainable-food-farming

Sustainable agriculture has been proposed by the United Nations, and
the Worldwatch Institute as a way to increase global access to food
while also reducing environmental degradation caused by industrial
farming methods. Peak oil expert, Richard Heinberg, has suggested that
we need 50 million farmers (including backyard gardeners, small
organic farms, CSA's, and large commercial farms) in the U.S. to
respond to rapidly diminishing supplies of easily accessible fossil
fuel. This will surely create opportunities for people with academic
credentials and experience in sustainable food and farming systems.

In this 15-credit, 5 course certificate program you will learn about
sustainable farming methods and the education and policy changes
needed to effect a global move to sustainable farming methods. The
certificate will help prepare students in three areas of study:

Sustainable Farming Systems - this includes sustainable and organic
plant and animal production systems for managing regionally focused
(local) farms, organic farms, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
farms, and personal homesteads.
Education - this includes youth education, citizen education, non-
profit educational organizations, media work, and formal teaching
relating to ecological food and farming.
Public Policy and Advocacy - this includes working directly with
people and groups in coalitions such as community gardens, anti-hunger
campaigns, and environmental protection groups, as well as non-profit
advocacy organizations, government agencies, and personal citizen
involvement in political and community change efforts.
Credits earned may be applied to the University Without Walls
Sustainability Studies degree completion program, the UMass Amherst
Bachelor of Science Degree in Sustainable Food and Farming.

Certificate program classes are open to all students with a GED or
high school diploma.

Winter 2013 Classes By Program

PLSOILIN 100
Botany for Gardeners | Enroll
PLSOILIN 290C
Land Use Policies and Sustainable Farming: Creating Opportunities and
Avoiding Conflicts | Enroll
PLSOILIN 397C
ST: Community Food Systems | Enroll
STOCKSCH 197A
ST-Backyard Homesteading: Raising Food for Yourself, Family, and
Community | Enroll
STOCKSCH 290U
Urban Agriculture | Enroll
Spring 2013 Classes By Program

PLSOILIN 120
Organic Farming and Gardening | Enroll
PLSOILIN 305
Small Fruit Production | Enroll
STOCKSCH 397S
ST-Sustainable Site Design and Planning | Enroll
For additional information about the certificate program requirement,
visit http://www.justfoodnow.org/Application.pdf

For more information please contact:

John Gerber, Professor
Phone: 413-545-5301
e-mail: jge...@psis.umass.edu.