Agroforestry is a land management system that combines cultivated trees with crops and/or livestock in ways that are beneficial to humanity and the environment. In this science-intensive and rigorous program, students will read, discuss, and write summaries of popular books and peer-reviewed scientific literature to understand how ecological theory and technical agroforestry practices are applied to design windbreaks, alley cropping, silvopasture, riparian buffers, and forest farming production systems. Growth characteristics and cultural practices of perennial fruit- and nut-bearing species used in agroforestry systems will be taught. Day and overnight field trips will highlight opportunities and challenges to implementing agroforestry concepts, with particular emphasis on forest farming and edible forest gardens. Students will complete and present an agroforestry research project that includes a scientific literature review and applied design project of their choice. Students seeking to earn upper-division science credit will establish specific requirements in consultation with faculty during the first week of the program.
Anticipated Credit Equivalencies:
6 - Agroforestry
4 - Ecological Design
6 - Agroforestry Research
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Course Reference Numbers
Academic Details
agriculture, forestry, horticulture, land management, and permaculture design.
$330 for overnight field trips and program retreat expenses
Upper division science credit will be available to students who complete upper division level work