Dec 03
While I have mentioned my classes in a couple post I recently realized that I’ve yet to give a comprehensive overview of Central Carolina Community College’s (CCCC) Sustainable Agriculture program. As you can probably imagine, it is fairly difficult to find any Sustainable Agriculture programs in higher education, especially outside of the Midwest. CCCC’s program is very well known within North Carolina and throughout the Southeast in general, and students come from across the state to attend.
The class I am currently enrolled in is entitled “Introduction to Sustainable Agriculture”, which also happens to be taught by the program’s director, Robin Kohanowich. We have covered a broad swath of topics including the definition of sustainable agriculture, state and national issues, organics, biodynamics, permaculture, and more. We’ve gotten a tour of CCCC’s student farm and have had guest speakers from local farms and sustainable agriculture advocacy organizations.
CCCC describes the program so:
“As a pioneer in innovative curriculum programs for the community college system, CCCC scored another winning effort with the establishment of its Sustainable Agriculture program in 2002. Developed in partnership with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension and with input from the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association, the curriculum is about better growing methods.”
My classmates seem to come from a very diverse background including those who plan on farming, those who already have a farm and wish to implement sustainable practices, those like myself who wish to pursue a career in the agriculture policy arena, and those who just have a passion for local and sustainable food systems. The program offers an Associate’s in Sustainable Agriculture as well as Certificate tracks in Sustainable Agriculture, Sustainable Agriculture Livestock, and Sustainable Agriculture Vegetable Production. Classes cover topics such as Soil Science, Agricultural Marketing, Organic Crop Production (Spring & Fall), and Farm Business Management. Students are able to complete internships at local farms, and many graduates go on to start farms of their own (I will be profiling Contrarian Farm soon – started by two former CCCC Sustainable Ag students).
Next semester I will be taking Sustainable Livestock Management – a course which I’m particularly excited about. I love everything to do with sustainable agriculture, but the humane and sustainable raising of livestock is where my true interests lie. While I’m realistic enough to realize that I don’t have what it takes to become a farmer, I do hope one day to be able to raise my own livestock for food and for pure enjoyment.
I am very happy that I found CCCC’s Sustainable Agriculture Program, and I would encourage anyone with even the slightest interest to learn more about it or even take a class or two!
For more information:
Central Carolina Community College – Sustainable Agriculture Program
Program Contact – Robin Kohanowich
rkohanwoich@cccc.edu
(919)542-6495 ext. 229