The main purpose of this course is to expose students to the topics of urban sustainable agriculture and food justice through experiential learning, action research, and discussions, as a complement to the theoretical approach that other courses offer at UC Berkeley. The UC Gill Tract Community Farm will be utilized as a laboratory of learning and action, where students will learn by being part of the community from the beginning, studying the system while concurrently collaborating with it.
Students will learn in the field, working on the main processes of sustainable agricultural production and farm functioning: soil conditions, bed preparation, planting, irrigation functioning, companion crops, pest control, weeding, harvesting, composting. At the same time, they will learn about the social dimension of food production and food justice from the involvement with the community organization, community stewardship, horizontal decision-making, collaboration and partnership with other organizations.
After completing this course, the students should gain tangible farming skills and an understanding of food systems, agroecology, food justice, food sovereignty, food security, urban sustainable agriculture, and the history and role of the UC Gill Tract Community Farm as a case study for urban sustainable agriculture and food justice.
Students are permitted 2 excused absences. Additionally, students are required to volunteer at the UCGTCF for 10 hours outside of class time throughout the semester. The DeCal will have a blog for which students must submit 6 entries of 200-500 words, with visuals (photographs, drawings, etc.), throughout the semester. This course has no exams.
This DeCal is a recipient of the SERC Fellowship.
Section | Facilitator | Size | Location | Time | Starts | Status | CCN(LD) | CCN(UD) |
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Section 1 | Helia Bidad, Angela Mimica, Brenly Stapley, Emi Klachky | 30 | 151 Barrows and at the UC Gill Tract Community Farm | [M] 12:00PM-2:00PM | 01/30/2017 | Open | -- | -- |
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