announced its new series of core courses beginning in February. The 21 Acres School opens to the public with enrollment available in two inaugural courses: Backyard Farming and Intro to Food Processing. The School is located in the newly green-built Center for Local Food and Sustainable Living.
The new 21 Acres courses are part of 21 Acres mission to offer continuing education classes that focus on principles of sustainable agriculture, including those related to not only food and food systems, but also home energy and water conservation, tools for local economic development and quality of life improvement for the community.
The February courses being offered are:
Backyard Farming Is a five-week course beginning on February 22 and covers the topics of plant biology, building soil fertility, compost and plant nourishment, seed selection and plant starts, garden design and scheduling. Course will be taught by Dr. Elizabeth (Beth) Wheat, an ecologist at the University of Washington where she teaches urban farming courses and leads coordination of the UW student farm. 21 Acres is pleased to welcome Dr. Wheat and share her wealth of experience.
Intro to Food Processing is also a five-week course beginning on March 1 and covers the topics of processing food, including preservation of value-added farm products. This course is ideal for people who are considering launching new food-related businesses and need to know the basics or for those people who have already begun production and need a little extra help. Course will be taught by Dale Nelson, owner and founder of Food Concepts, Inc. a full-service specialty food development company in Washington State.
The 21 Acres School is also offering a new certificate program, the Sustainability & Stewardship Certificate, is available to students who complete studies in one or more of the center’s sustainability fields. Enroll now and the fee is just $45 for a two-year period. Enrollees receive advance notice of class availability and occasional special discount offers. Registration fees for the five-week Backyard Farming course or the five week Intro to Food Processing course are $195 each.
Interested students may enroll and register one of three ways: Phone: 425-481-1500 ; E-mail:deb@21acres.org; 21acres.org/school.
