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Organic Farming CC
Horticulture Department | 3 CC - Certificate of Completion | 1 year
Earn your certificate in Organic Farming at Clackamas Community College. In as little as a year, learn the principles and practices for local small market farming.
Do you have a passion for environmental stewardship, locally grown food, global nutrition and food security? Does the idea of working outdoors appeal to you? In as little as one year, an Organic Farming certificate from Clackamas Community College lets you do all of these while learning the skills needed for a farming career.
For horticulture advising, please Contact April Chastain at 503-594-3292 or april.chastain@clackamas.edu
Organic Farming CC
You will develop some exciting new skills in this program. Among these new skills, you should be able to:
- Apply sustainable, organic methods in the planning, planting, management and harvesting of food crops
- Select and properly use farm equipment that is appropriate for a given scale of farming
- Implement organic strategies in orchards and on small-scale vegetable and berry farms
Careers
The Organic Farming certificate prepares graduates to operate their own farm or work in the community food system.
Graduates will be qualified to run small-scale farms, work closely with existing farmers and be advocates of local food systems.
Other career opportunities include:
- working and managing community gardens
- farmers markets
- school gardens
Job Market
Search related careers and regional data on wages and job outlook on Career Coach.
National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP)
It is the only nationally recognized endorsement offered to colleges with landscape/horticulture curricula. It is designed to recognize schools with landscape contracting curricula that meet or exceed industry standards. Visit the NALP web site.
PROGRAM CODE: CC.ORGANICFARM
This certificate focuses on an ecological systems approach to sustainable farming principles and practices which are suitable for small-scale market farming. Many classes have a lab component, which provides students with the opportunity to gain a practical, working knowledge of small-scale, organic farming and marketing practices. Production methods for vegetables, grain, and fruit are covered.
Students may begin this program any term, although starting in Spring term to follow the annual crop planting, harvesting and planning cycle is recommended.
RELATED INSTRUCTION OUTCOMES
Computation (1 course- MTH-050 Technical Mathematics I or MTH-065 Algebra II or higher)
- Use appropriate mathematics to solve problems.
Communication (1 course- WR-101 Workplace Writing or WR-121Z Composition I)
- Read actively, think critically, and write purposefully and capably for professional audiences.
Human Relations (1 course- BA-285 Human Relations in Business or COMM-100Z Introduction to Communication)
- Engage in ethical communication processes that accomplish goals.
PROGRAM OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of this program, students should be able to:
- apply sustainable, organic methods in the planning, planting, management and harvesting of food crops;
- select and properly use farm equipment that is appropriate for a given scale and system of farming;
- implement organic IPM strategies in orchards and on small scale vegetable and berry farms;
- use a basic understanding of soil science and irrigation systems to make ecologically sound decisions in the production of food crops;
- write a business plan and identify the various regulations that impact an organic food producer;
- effectively communicate with co-workers and customers through speaking, writing and computer technology.
Organic Farming Core Requirements
Complete 3 credits of HOR-284
- HOR-284
- Organic Farming Practicum/Summer
- 3
Complete 3 credits of HOR-285
- HOR-285
- Organic Farming/CWE
- 3
Complete the following Core Requirements
- HOR-113
- Organic Farming Practicum/Fall
- 3
- HOR-124
- Food Harvest
- 3
- HOR-135
- Propagation of Edible Plants
- 3
- HOR-136
- Organic Farming Practicum/Winter
- 3
- HOR-140
- Soils
- 3
- HOR-141
- Organic Farming Practicum/Spring
- 4
- HOR-146
- Fruit & Berry Growing
- 3
- HOR-216
- Integrated Pest Management
- 3
- HOR-223
- Applied Plant Science
- 4
- HOR-230
- Equipment Operation & Maintenance
- 2
Computation Related Instruction
Complete MTH-050 or MTH-065 or higher
- MTH-050
- Technical Mathematics I
- 4
- MTH-065
- Algebra II
- 4
Communication Related Instruction
Complete WR-101 or WR-121Z
- WR-101
- Workplace Writing
- 4
- WR-121Z
- Composition I
- 4
Human Relations Related Instruction
Complete BA-285 or COMM-100Z
- BA-285
- Human Relations in Business
- 4
- COMM-100Z
- Introduction to Communication
- 4
Program Electives
Complete 5-6 credits of Organic Farming Program Electives. See catalog for a complete list of Organic Farming Program electives.
