Teaching Organic Farming & Gardening

The Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems is a research, education, and public
service program located at the University of California, Santa Cruz. The Center’s mission
is to advance sustainable food and agricultural systems that are environmentally sound,
economically viable, socially responsible, non-exploitative, and that serve as a foundation for
future generations.

Teaching Organic Farming and Gardening: Resources for Instructors is a tool intended to increase and improve education in practical organic agriculture and horticulture skills and concepts. While the majority of the manual is devoted to practical training, the instructional materials also cover the science behind the practices, and provide a detailed introduction to social and environmental issues in agriculture. Although much of the material is designed for field or garden demonstrations and skill building, most of the units can also be tailored to a classroom setting. The manual is designed so that units or even individual lectures or demonstrations can be pulled out to be used on their own or in any sequence.