Monday:
Safety Brief
Curriculum Overview
Sustainable Agriculture: An Introduction
What is Sustainable Agriculture?
How Do We Achieve Sustainability?
Overview of Markets
Overview of Soil Structure and Fertility
Overview of Biodiversity on Farms
Overview of Water, Water Quality and Conservation
Overview of Bio-dynamics
Overview of Green Job Marketplace
Break for Lunch
Lab Day 1: Discussion of 6-week cumulative project:
Potential Topics:
Describe how to convert a traditional 2-acre farm into an organic farm.
Design a Portable Hydroponic System that can be used in 3 rd world countries using materials readily available in the military
Outline a set of crops that could be used at a school, hospital, etc to provide all the nutritional needs to make them self-sufficient.
Other topics TBD
Field Trip: Tour of Archi’s Acres Facilities
Tuesday:
Fruits: Video Introduction of The Botany of Desire, by Michael Pollan http://www.pbs.org/thebotanyofdesire/
Strawberries: Organic Production Methods Varieties

Planting Systems
Greenhouse Production
Vegetables: Organic Tomato Production
Varieties
Planting Systems
Greenhouse Production
Benefits of Organic Production
Specialty Lettuce and Greens: Organic Production Varieties
Planting Systems
Shade House Production
Benefits of Organic Production
Break for Lunch
Lab Day 2:
Lab 1: Soil vs. Hydroponics Seed propagation
Planting in Soil vs. Hydroponics
Lab 2: Overview of Organic Market Farm Documentation Forms –
Daily Requirements
Wednesday:
Field Trip: BEE Wise or JR Organics -- Successful Organic
Agriculture
CSA Marketplace
Commercial Marketplace
Speaker: Successful Sustainable Farmer w/ CSA (community supported agriculture) BEE Wise Ranch – Bill Bremer or JR
Organics –Joe Rodriguez
Return to AA for Lunch

Lecture: Herb (and Flower) Production
Why Organic? An Overview of US Agriculture
Methods of Herb Production:
Forest Farming
Greenhouse/Hoop-house
Field Production
Raised Bed Production
Hydroponic Production
Success Story: Whole Foods and Archi’s Acres
Thursday:
Agriculture and National Security
Energy in relation to Agriculture
Green Job Market: Agriculture, Wind and Solar Technology
Overview
Why Hydroponics in California?
Water Efficiency
Energy Efficiency
Profitability of Hydroponics
Environmental Factors in Greenhouse Production
Light
Humidity
Heat/Cold
Nutrients
Lab: Document the Effects of Various Enviromental Factors on Basil
Production in a Controlled Tent Environment. (Lab will be on-going)
Light
Humidity
Heat/Cold

Nutrients
Friday:
Speaker: Successful Greenhouse Distributor
Lecture: Greenhouses and Its Uses
Introduction to Aquaponics
Sustainable Small Scale Greenhouse and Nursery Production
(Summary)
Lunch
Lab: Review and Work of On-going Labs
Discussion of 6 week Project
Environmental Factors
Soil vs Hydroponic Growing
Daily Forms
2
Monday:
Soil Biology
Soil Organisms and Nutrient Cycling
Organic Matter and the Health of Soil
Pasture Plants that Cycle Nutrients
Discussion of How Grazing Livestock Affect Pasture Nutrient Cycles
Supplementing the Nutrient Cycle
Break for Lunch
Lab: Identifying Different Soil Types and Their Uses http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_ document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10931

Tuesday:
Soil Management: National Organic Program Regulations
Soil Moisture Monitoring: Low-Cost Tools and Methods
Sustainable Soil Management
Symphylans: Soil Pest Management Options
Break for Lunch
Lab: Identifying and Classifying Soil Nutrients such as Nitrogen,
Phosphorus and Potassium
Wednesday:
Soil Quality Assessment: Soil Organic Matter (SOM)
Examples of Soil Quality Indicators:
Physical Properties:
Available Water Capacity
Bulk Density
Soil Crusts
Chemical
PH level
Biological
Eathworms
Respiration
Total Organic Carbon http://soils.usda.gov/sqi/assessment/assessment. html#indicator_sheets
BREAK FOR LUNCH
LAB: Soil Quality Testing
Test Procedures contains step-by-step instructions for running each of the tests included in the Soil Quality Test Kit. It is fully illustrated with pictures

to show the procedures and equipment needed to complete each step.
Appendix D includes instructions for building a test kit.
Background and Interpretive Guide describes the background of the tests and provides guidance on interpreting the results of the tests.
Perform Soil Test, learn how to use Soil Quality Worksheet
Thursday:
Voices from New American Farmers
( http://www.sare.org/publications/naf2/voices.htm
)
Urban Farmers: Growing Power http://www.growingpower.org/
Break for Lunch
Lab: Build a Raised Bed
Friday:
Topics will be dependent upon Class composition
Profiles by Region
Profiles by State
Profiles by Commodity
Profiles by Problem Addressed
Break for Lunch
Speaker: Melissa Amit Shuck, Soil Conservationist USDA Escondido Office
Successful Organic Farmer such as:
Joe Rodriquez JR ORGANICS
Bill Bremmer, BEE WISE RANCH
Continued Work on Labs http://www.sare.org/publications/naf2/index.htm

Monday:
Traditional Agriculture Paradigm
Industrial Agriculture Paradigm
Organic Agriculture Paradigm
Biodynamic Agriculture Paradigm
BioDynamic Farming Practices
The Bio-dynamic Compost
Phases of Compost
Breakdown Phase
Build up Phase
Compost and Soil Evaluation
Cover Crops and Green Manure
Liquid Manures and Herbal Teas
Break for Lunch
Lab Instruction: How to combine organic nutrients and brew organic compost tea
Tuesday:
Herbal Tea Preparation
Components of Compost Tea
Benefits of Compost Tea
Rizosphere Benefits for Microorganisms
Active Components of Compost Tea
Compost Tea as a Natural Fungicide
Compost Tea Production Methods

(http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/compostteashow/compostteaslides/sld009.htm)
Vermicomposting
Worm Production
Raising Worms
Feeds and Bedding
Use of Castings in Compost Teas
Break for Lunch
Lab 1: Brewing Compost Teas Continued
Bacterial Tea
Fungal Tea
Wednesday:
Providing Habitat for Beneficial Organisms
Plantings for beneficial organisms and wildlife (bats)
Windbreaks, Dust Barriers, Pesticide Barriers
Protect these Beneficial Insects
Life Cycle of Lady Bugs
Life Cycle of Lacewings
Life Cycle of Syrphid Flies
Life Cycle of Damsel Bugs
Life Cycle of Spiders
Important Insect Pests
Methods of Controlling Catepillars of Moths and Butterflies
Cultural and Biological Control of Mites http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/summaries/summary. php?pub=148
Break for Lunch
Lab: Growing Bugs

“Design a natural habitat to attract the beneficial bugs you want, using
Native Planting.
Thursday:
What causes Plant Diseases?
Fungi
Bacteria
Nematodes
Virus
How to Prevent Plant Diseases
Drainage
Irrigation
Cleanliness
Nutrient Management
Break for Lunch
Lab 1: Use a Loop to Identify Pest Issues
Lab 2: Identify Sites for Reference for Beneficial Crop Care/Insect
Identification/Disease Identification
Friday:
SPEAKER: Biological Pest Supplier
Question and Answer
Break for Lunch
Lecture: Organic Integrated Vertebrate
Management
Gopher Controls
Benefits of Owls, Owl Nests and Boxes
Squirrel, Dear, Pigs

Rabbit and Hare Controls
Birds
Rats and Mice Control
Discussion of Greenhouse vs Traditional Methods of Agriculture
Review of 6 week Project
Review of Weeks 1 and 2
Discussion of Continuous Labs
4
Monday:
Water Management and Water Conservation
Energy Requirements and Savings
Discussion of 4 Major Hydroponic Growing Methods
Ebb and Flow
Drip Irrigation
NFT (Nutrient Flow Technique)
Passive System
Break for Lunch
Lab1: Overview and familiarization of components used to Build a commercial Hydroponic System, as well as a home use system.
Materials to be supplied
Tuesday:
Discussion of various mediums and their benefits
Perlite, Rockwool, Clay Pebbles, Volcanic Rock, Coco Husk
The Dynamic Root Floating Hydroponic Technique: Year-Round Production
Automatic Management of Nutrient Systems
Productivity Gains
Capital and Running Costs

Break for Lunch
Lab: Analysis of Water Absorption Rates of Various Growing Mediums
Continuation of Building Your Own Hydroponic System
Wednesday:
All Day Lab: Students should be prepared to work all day setting up a hydroponic system from start to finish including adding plants and nutrients.
Thursday:
Cost/Benefit Analysis
Energy Consumption Analysis
Produce that Works for Hydroponic Production
Field Trip includes Lunch: Organic Food Retailer’s
Whole Foods Market Distribution Center
Jimbo’s Distribution
Co-Op Market
Friday:
Sunday Lab:
Discussion with Rachel Pena, founder of the Rancho Santa Fe Farmer’s
Market

Required Text: Agricultural Sprinklers, by Robert Sneed developed for Irrigation Association - Provided
Suggested and supplemental reading: Principals of Irrigation, Falls
Church , CA : Irrigation Association
Monday:
Employment opportunities
Landscape
Commercial Agriculture
Production systems
Drip Irrigation overview
Key Points for Common Types of Irrigation Systems, Surface
Irrigation, Sprinkler Irrigation, Micro Irrigation
Lunch
Starting up your system
Basic System Operation
Scheduling
Water Balance Method
Monitoring Equipment
Run-Time Calculators for Permanent and Row Crops
Lab: Layout and implementation of Irrigation system
Tuesday:
Plant/Soil/ Water Relationships
Soil Analysis and Interpretation

Plant Analysis and Interpretation
Break for Lunch
General Chemical Injection Guidelines
Chemical Injection Equipment
Chemical Injection Formulas
Organic Nutrients vs. Chemical Formulas
Wednesday:
Emitter Spacing and Bed Shape for leaching salts
Drip Irrigation and leaching
Target Leaching Reduces Waste
Improving Yield
Break for Lunch
Comparing Drip, Sprinkler and Gravity Irrigation Systems
Typical Drip System Layout
Pressure Testing to prevent potential crop damage from a system shutdown
Emission Devices
Thursday:
Questions and Answers Open class forum
Understanding Conversion Factors
The business of Building Irrigation systems, Manufacturing
The business of selling irrigation equipment in retail stores and wholesale to retail stores
Break for Lunch
Test Preparation for CAIS Test
Open book test / Student Workbook: Agriculture Sprinklers by Ronald
Sneed

Friday:
Break for Lunch
Field Trip to Toro Irrigation
Monday:
USDA (Grants & Jobs) what they look for, who they hire and education requirements
Break for Lunch
Lab: Resume writing -- What Color is Your Parachute?
Interview Skills -- Is Your Parachute Working?
Tuesday:
Industry Partners:

Toro Irrigation

John Deere Water

Kira Construction

AgroEcology, Inc
Break for Lunch
Lecture on Basic Business Management Techniques:

Budgeting

Accounting for Non-Accountants

Financing Overview

Marketing Overview
Wednesday:
Lecture from SCORE – George Kissling and other Counselors
Break for Lunch

Lecture from Mira Costa College Small Business Development
Center – Joe Molina
Thursday:
Test Preparation for CAIS Test
Break for Lunch
Review of Materials for Archi’s Acres Exam
Employment Preparation and Interview Scheduling
Friday:
Final Exam from Archi’s Acres
Break for Lunch
Presentation of 6 Week Project and Labs
–
Books:
Agricultural Sprinklers, Student Workbook, Irrigation
Association
IRRIGATION ASSOCIATION EDUCATION FOUNDATION
Licensed Curriculum for Certified Agriculture Irrigation
Specialist (CAIS) Program
Written by Dr. Charles M. Burt , Irrigation Training and
Research Center, Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo,
CA 93407
Making your Small Farm Profitable, author Ron Marcher
Small Farm Handbook, University of California, ANR
Publications, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Starting a Farmers Market, Desmond Jolly, Editor, Small Farm
Center, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616
Websites:
USDA/NRCS Soils Website
ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service
Website
P.O. Box 3838
Butte, MT 59702
HYDROPONICS ONLINE .COM