HORT 456/656
Organic Vegetable Production
Long Summer 2012
Instructors:
Dr. Geoff Zehnder, Professor
Office B28 Long Hall
Phone: (864) 656-6644 (office); (864-933-6742 (cell)
Email: zehnder@clemson.edu
Office Hours: By appointment
Mr. Shawn Jadrnicek, Student Organic Farm Manager
Student Organic Farm, 190 Field Station Drive, Campus
Phone: (864) 457-8006
Email: sjadrnicek@gmail.com
Office Hours: By appointment
Lecture: Wed; 11:30 AM – 12:45 PM, Student Organic Farm, 190 Field Station Drive, Campus
Laboratory: Mon, Wed; 8:00 AM – 11:30 AM, Student Organic Farm, 190 Field Station Drive, Campus
Course Overview:
The objectives of the course are to introduce students to the concepts of sustainable agriculture and certified organic
vegetable production in an experiential learning environment at the Clemson Student Organic Farm. The course will
cover a wide range of topics related to organic vegetable production including fundamentals of sustainable and
organic agriculture, site selection, preparation of the vegetable growing area, variety selection and planting, cultural
practices to manage insects and diseases, and harvesting. Post-harvest handling and storage of individual crops will
also be addressed. Emphasis will be on learning by doing.
Course Objectives:
By the end of this course, the student will be able to:
 Describe the fundamentals of organic vegetable production under the National Organic Program
 Describe critical factors in organic farm planning
 Describe irrigation system design and implementation
 Describe and contrast practices to enhance soil quality and fertility
 List and describe the efficacy of key organic pest management practices
 Describe production and market characteristics of vegetable varieties appropriate for organic production
 Work independently and in groups to effectively grow, harvest and market organic vegetables.
Required Text: Southeastern U.S. 2012 Vegetable Crop Handbook (distributed during class). Supplemental
readings will be assigned each week from National Center for Applied Technology (NCAT) publications distributed
through email (please refer to list on page 4).
Lab Journal
Students will be required to maintain a lab journal and to record daily farm activities with emphasis on challenges
encountered and solutions that were developed. Students will discuss journal entries during the lecture period, and at
the end of the course will select one topic from the journal (i.e. weed management, cover cropping, etc.) and give a
brief oral presentation describing challenges encountered at the SOF and how practices/procedures could be
improved. Students will be expected to refer to assigned reading materials and/or other resources on their chosen
topic to develop their presentation.
Grading:
Undergraduate grading:
Exam 1
Exam 2
Exam 3
Assessment of student’s ability to practically apply knowledge in the field
Lab journal presentation
Written report on Upstate Farm Tour
Total
90 points
90 points
90 points
70 points
40 points
20 points
400
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HORT 456/656
Organic Vegetable Production
Graduate grading:
Exam 1
Exam 2
Exam 3
Lab journal presentation
Written report on Upstate Farm Tour
Assigned research project
Total
Long Summer 2012
80 points
80 points
80 points
30 points
30 points
100 points
400
Grading Scale:
A 360-400
B 320 – 359
C 280-319
D 240-279
F <239
Attendance Policy:
Please be in class on time. Our time is limited and valuable. Come to class prepared to participate in
class discussions. The instructor will notify students in advance of any schedule changes due to weather,
etc.
Make-up tests will not be given.
Students who miss a test and who promptly present an adequate written excuse, preferably in advance,
may be allowed to reschedule the test. Unexcused absences on a test day will result in a "0" and cannot be
made up.
Attire for Laboratory Sessions at the Organic Farm.
Students should come to class prepared to work outdoors at the farm. Shoes are required and open-toed
sandals are not allowed. Hats and sunscreen are recommended; sunscreen will be provided if needed.
Official Statement on Academic Integrity
"As members of the Clemson University community, we have inherited Thomas Green Clemson's vision
of this institution as a 'high seminary of learning.' Fundamental to this vision is a mutual commitment to
truthfulness, honor, and responsibility, without which we cannot earn the trust and respect of others.
Furthermore, we recognize that academic dishonesty detracts from the value of a Clemson degree.
Therefore, we shall not tolerate lying, cheating, or stealing in any form."
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HORT 456/656
Organic Vegetable Production
Long Summer 2012
LECTURE/LAB SCHEDULE*
Date
May 16
Lecture
Laboratory
Introductions, concepts of
sustainable/organic farming (Geoff Zehnder)
Tour of the organic farm. Demonstration of
permaculture components used in the farm design.
Harvesting and post-harvest handling of spring
vegetable crops
Weed management techniques
Disease and insect pest management practices, organic
pesticides
Practice with propagation techniques in the greenhouse
May 21
May 23
May 28
Weed management principles
May 30
Sexual and asexual plant propagation
June 2
and 3
June 4
Carolina Farm Stewardship Association Upstate Farm Tour (required participation and report)
June 6
June 11
June 13
June 18
June 20
June 25
June 27
July 2
July 4
July 9
July 11
July 16
July 18
July 23
July 25
Crop rotation, cover cropping.
Exam 1
Soil quality assessments, soil amendments,
Benefits of composting and mulching; field application
soil sampling.
of compost and mulch. Application of organic soil
amendments
Dealing with wildlife on the farm; repelling damaging
wildlife
Introduction to trellising techniques
Staking and trellising vegetables
Break for Long Summer Session (complete reading assignments)
Exam 2
Value added products; canning, drying, freezing and
fermentation of farm products (Susan Barefoot).
Tillage and organic no-till methods
Topic to be announced
Holiday
Habitat enhancement to attract beneficial
insects (Powell Smith)
Selecting appropriate vegetable varieties for
organic production; sourcing organic seeds
Production and harvest techniques for
summer season crops (beans, cucurbits,
tomatoes, corn, peppers, small fruit)
Season extension techniques (Rich Hassell
Insect sampling and identification (Powell Smith)
Irrigation system design (Dara Park)
Market quality standards for organic vegetables
Topic to be announced
Visit to Clemson Agriculture Service Laboratory and
discussion on analytical procedures and interpreting
results (Kathy Moore).
Organic Pest Management (Geoff Zehnder)
July 30
Aug 1
Lab Journal Presentations
Aug 3
Exam 3
* Schedule of topics is subject to change based on weather and seasonal dynamics at the farm. All lectures will be
presented by Shawn Jadrnicek unless otherwise indicated. The schedule may be revised to accommodate lectures by
guest instructors on specific topics of interest.
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HORT 456/656
Organic Vegetable Production
Long Summer 2012
NATIONAL CENTER FOR APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY (NCAT)
SUPPLEMENTAL READING LIST
PDF copies of recommended readings will be posted online or sent via email
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE – GENERAL
Sustainable Agriculture: An Introduction - IP043
Applying the Principles of Sustainable Farming - IP107
Intercropping Principles and Production Practices - IP135
Holistic Management: A Whole-Farm Decision Making Framework - IP154
PEST MANAGEMENT
Biointensive Integrated Pest Management - IP049
Farmscaping to Enhance Biological Control - CT065
Principles of Sustainable Weed Management for Croplands - IP039
SOIL AND FERTILITY MANAGEMENT
A Brief Overview of Nutrient Cycling in Pastures - IP221
Sustainable Soil Management - IP027
Drought Resistant Soil - IP169
Overview of Cover Crops and Green Manures - IP024
Composting-The Basics - IP410
WATER - IRRIGATION
Soil Moisture Monitoring: Low-Cost Tools and Methods - IP277
Maintaining Irrigation Pumps, Motors, and Engines - IP299
Measuring and Conserving Irrigation Water - IP280
Energy Saving Tips for Irrigators - IP278
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY STRATEGIES
Renewable Energy Opportunities on the Farm - IP304
Small-Scale Wind Energy on the Farm - IP311
Biodiesel: Do-it-yourself Production Basics - IP263
Solar-Powered Livestock Watering Systems - IP217
Agricultural Buildings: An Overview - IP220
Efficient Food Dehydration Options - IP147
GREENHOUSE – SEASON EXTENSION PRODUCTION
Sustainable Season Extension: Considerations for Design - IP416
Compost Heated Greenhouses - CT137
Integrated Pest Management for Greenhouse Crops - IP144
Organic Greenhouse Vegetable Production - IP078
Season Extension Techniques for Market Gardeners - IP035
Aquaponics — Integration of Hydroponics with Aquaculture - IP163
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