For Spring 2008 interested students should register for Student Organic Farm Planning Growing and Marketing (Undergrads:  AGRO 3131 (Course Registration # 92047) or Hort 3131 (Course Registration # 92049) and Grad students: AGRO 5131 (Course Registration # 92048) or HORT 5131 (Course Registration # 92050)) 3 Credit Course

Class will meet Mondays and Fridays from 11:45  to 1:40 in 132 Plant Growth Greenhouse Classroom .

Co- Instructors:

Bud Markhart, Horticultural Science, amarkhar@umn.edu
Paul Porter, Agronomy and Plant Genetics, pporter@umn.edu
Courtney Tchnida, tchi0003@umn.edu
 

Have you ever wanted to grow your own food? Have you wondered what growing organic food really means? Are you interested in selling directly to eager consumers? Are you interested in field or greenhouse research growing fruits are vegetables without synthetic pesticides and fertilizers? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then this “hands dirty” course that plans, grows, and markets organic produce and flowers from the Student Organic Farm is for you! 

The Student Organic Farm course plans, grows, and markets organic produce and flowers from the Student Organic Farm located on the St. Paul Campus. Through weekly meetings during the Spring Semester students will review past year production and marketing successes and challenges and explore specific organic production practices for soil health and fertility, pest management, composting, handling, season extension, and options for marketing. Students will design a research project that could be executed on the farm during the summer growing season. Students will learn organic seedling production in high tunnels, effective transplanting to minimize weed competition, insect identification with an emphasis on supporting beneficial insect populations, and disease management. The organic vegetables produced on the farm have been sold at farmer’s markets, by office delivery, to restaurants, coops, and local school districts. And of course eagerly consumed by the growers!