SANet Folks
It seems that the question, "where can I get a degree in Sustainable
Ag?" crops up frequently on this list, and so I would like to share
information on our excellent program at Sterling College in Craftsbury
Common, Vermont. Not only do we offer two and four year degrees
focusing upon Sustainable Agriculture, we have also just started an
intensive farm program, to run in the summer of 2000. (See below for
more details)
Located in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, Craftsbury is a rural area
full of amazing resources. Sterling offers a 2+2 program (AA degree,
then BA degree) with three concentrations: Wildlands Ecology, Outdoor
Education and Leadership, and Sustainable Agriculture. We are a very
small school (about 80 students) with the motto: "Working Hands, Working
Minds." Our diversified working farm consists of a small, low-input
livestock operation, an organic veggie garden, a greenhouse, working
woodlots and a small orchard.Students help out with chores and other
projects on the farm, and in all other parts of the college. In exchange
for their participation in Sterling's "work program" (part of the
national Work College Consortium), students receive a deduction in their
tution! (To find out about the Summer Farm Semester, keep reading
below.)
If you'd like more information on the college and our programs, you can
check our website, www.sterlingcollege.edu, although it is a bit
outdated, or send an email with your mailing address to
admissions@sterlingcollege.eduSterling
SUMMER 2000: FULL IMMERSION PROGRAM IN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
This summer we are very excited about the start-up of our Summer Farm
Semester. This is a good way for folks from other schools and other
areas, including entering first year students, to give Sterling a try!
Here's a little more about the summer program.
The Sterling College Farm semester immerses students in the daily
rhythms and realities of farming. Focusing on sustainability, the farm
semester is a program of work and study exploring holistic management of
plants, animals and land. Students may focus in one or more of these
areas, according to personal interests. Activities will include short
skill-building and production projects, on-farm sustainable agriculture
research, field trips, day-to-day work tasks, cooperative living, and
celebrations of seasonal milestones.
Students will work at the Sterling educational farm; small and
diversified, it incorporates a grass-based livestock system, solar
powered barns, a newly-built greenhouse, a few fruit trees, a managed
woodlot, and organic vegetable, herb, and flower gardens. We strive for
sustainability in all of our management practices.
Sample summer activities
*A trip to the summer convention at Seed Savers Exchange Heritage Farm
in Iowa.
*Volunteering and learning at the Northeast Organic Farmers Association
(NOFA) Summer Conference.
*A work day at Vermont’s largest community supported agriculture (CSA)
farm.
*Mowing hay and grains with hand scythes.
*Garden cultivation and harvesting of timber with draft horses.
*Exploring pasture ecosystems and management.
*Preserving fruit and vegetable crops for winter use.
*Farmer-to-farmer meetings and workshops on different agricultural
skills and issues.
*Cooking a farm-fresh community supper for local families.
*Planning and hosting a summer harvest festival.
*Creating interpretive signs for multi-age visitors to the Sterling
farm.
A day in the life…
An average day will find students waking early for farm chores—moving
animals to new pasture, monitoring the orchard for pests, or weeding the
garden.
Breakfast, consisting of farm fresh food, such as eggs, home baked
bread, or early strawberries, provides a forum for planning the day.
The morning will focus on a longer project, such as haying or harvesting
tomatoes for canning. After lunch, there may be time to break for a
quick swim, or we might return to our morning project, start a workshop,
or head out on a field trip. On other days, students will be free to
work on their own research projects, or to enjoy the wonder of the
Vermont summer.
In the evening students can explore creative meal options, utilizing the
food produced on the farm. They will also have time to share
experiences and plan for the next day.
The farm semester incorporates three main components.
Work: Students, faculty, and others work to ensure that the farm runs
smoothly and effectively. This will be the primary objective each day,
and will include chores, maintenance and other projects, such as
fencing, garden cultivation, animal health or orchard pest management.
Skills-building: Participants concentrate on specific areas and develop
agricultural skills. Workshops will run at least once a week and cover
a variety of topics, such as animal care procedures, food handling and
preservation, or rationing pastures for livestock feed.
Study: Students choose an area of special interest and conduct on-farm
research to explore their ideas. Each student will work with a faculty
advisor on his or her chosen project. Some possible research topics
include low-input swine production, the economic feasibility of
producing teas to supply Sterling’s kitchen, and the contribution of
pasture feed to growth of lambs.
These three components are woven together over the course of the summer
in a dynamic setting of cooperative living and intense educational,
social, and work-based interactions.
Details...
Twelve week, full immersion program
Dates: May 31st—August 22nd, 2000
Number of participants: 5-10
Housing: Apartment style/cooperative
Food: Food produced on the farm will be available to summer students.
In addition the college will provide bulk buying options. Cooking and
additional food purchase will be the responsibility of the students.
Credits: 6 semester hours of credit.
Cost:
Sterling Students—
Standard fees apply, with adjustment for board costs. Work college
credit may be earned.
Other students—
If you wish to transfer credit to your home institution, the total cost
of the program will be $3360.00.
If you wish to audit the program (not recieve college credit), the cost
will be $2460.00.
For an application and more detailed program information, contact
Gwyneth Harris
Farm Manager
Sterling COllege
Craftsbury Common, VT 05827
802-586-7711
gharris@sterlingcollege.edu
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