Summer Institute in Sustainable Agriculture at Willamette Universitys Zena Farm
May 23 July 1, 2011 We are pleased to announce the second year of our Summer Institute in Sustainable Agriculture at Willamette Universitys Zena Farm just 10 miles west of Salem, OR. The program will take place from May 23-July 1, 2011. It provides students from liberal arts colleges and non-agricultural majors from larger institutions the opportunity to pursue both hands-on organic farming experience and interdisciplinary academic coursework that examines the ecological, social, economic, and ethical implications of agricultural systems in the US, while living in a sustainable community in the heart of the Willamette Valley. Classes: The courses offered for academic credit are: Perspectives on Sustainable Agriculture, a class that examines the ethical, economic, and social implications of different agricultural practices through a historic lens; and The Effects of Agriculture on Biodiversity: Beyond the Farm Field, a class that investigates farming from an agroecological perspective. These classes are taught by Willamette faculty members in a 1920s farmhouse located on the site. We will be happy to work with your home institution to figure out transferability of credits. Practical Experience: Each day participate in discussions about the underlying logic of organic agriculture methods and put those philosophies to practice with hands on work in our fields. Students will receive instruction from the farm manager in all aspects of organic farming from seeding to harvesting. Topics will include every thing from making compost, to layer mulching, to applying amendments, to balancing crops with beneficial plants to create a healthy agroecosystem, to cover cropping between harvests. Workshops in whole food preparation and preservation: Learn everything from how to make homemade bread and granola, to cook with whole grains and dry beans, to make your own cheese and crackers, to canning beans and jams. Fieldtrips to understand our local food system: >From hippiest organic farm to the pragmatic local dairy to the shelf-ready food processing facility to local farmers markets and supermarkets, well visit them all and several things in between to understand how and why food is grown the way it is. Recreational opportunities: The site of this program is the 305-acre Zena Forest, which boasts many acres of Douglas fir forest, oak savannahs, and riparian zones. In addition, five acres of the property is either farm fields or orchards. Students who attend the summer program will experience country life as they live on site (either in the farmhouse or in yurts). Additionally, students will be able to run or hike the trails in the adjacent forests, play soccer or volleyball on the playing field, or take forays into town. Trips: Additional trips to the nearby Cascade Mountains or Oregon Coast will be offered on two Sundays during the program and students will be free to explore the region on their own. Program cost: The cost of the program is $3700, which includes tuition, lodging, meals, medical insurance, and field trips to local farms. Additional costs could include transportation to and from your hometown, side trips taken during the session, costs of personal items such as work boots or a sleeping bag, admission to state and national parks, and extra spending money. Application: Visit our website at www.willamette.edu/go/sustainableag for more information and to get the application to our program. Questions? Please contact Dr. Jennifer Johns at jjo...@willamette.edu with questions. Jennifer Johns, Ph.D. Associate Director for Sustainable Agriculture Programs Center for Sustainable Communities Willamette University
