Good news from Sterling College!

Indeed, potentially excellent news. Just received the following letter from Pavel Cenkl, Dean of Academics:

Dear Tom,

Lynne Birdsall, our Director of Admissions, forwarded letter inquiring about Sterling’s Sustainable Agriculture degree program. From your email, your learning goals seem to be consistent with our program; I think that the breadth and scale of our program would certainly help you build on your experience and achieve your objective. I have attached an overview of a year-long program in Sustainable Agriculture, which, although it does not culminate in a degree, could be an appropriate vehicle further develop expertise in both practical and theoretical aspects of farming. This full-time program consists of Sterling’s core agriculture courses and room for further specialization in specific areas. There is also some flexibility in sequencing and scheduling.

As one of the smallest colleges in the country, we would look forward to working with you to craft a program to suit your specific needs. Please let me know whether the program described in the attached file is of interest.

Best regards,

Pavel

The program description he sent along is as follows:

One-Year Program in Sustainable Agriculture

The Sterling Program in Sustainable Agriculture provides opportunities for adult learners who hold B.A. or B.S. degrees (or the equivalent) to achieve competency in Sustainable Agriculture through a 12-month full-time course of study at the College.

The Sterling College Sustainable Agriculture program parallels the College’s mission by combining academic study, experiential challenges, and work. The College farm, consisting of solar-powered barns, pasturelands, gardens, fruit trees, a greenhouse, and a diversity of livestock, is a living laboratory for the exploration of sustainable agricultural systems. Working alongside faculty, students become involved in the farm through a college-wide work program, structured skill-building activities, and careful academic inquiry into farming systems.

Students study the principles of science and economics that underlie agricultural systems and learn a variety of agricultural techniques and practices applicable to the small, diversified farm and homestead. Further classes provide additional technical knowledge, explore and assess a range of agricultural models from biodynamic to corporate farms, and examine the human relationship to nature and agro-ecosystems.

Program Overview

Fall Semester

SS 140 Exploring Alternative Agriculture

AS 110 Agricultural Techniques

NS 245 Soil Science

AS 174 Draft Horse Management I: Driving Principles

Elective

Spring Semester

SS 212 Whole Farm Planning

NS 346 Plant Science

NS 315 Animal Science

AS 179 Draft Horse Management II: Work Applications

Elective / Independent Study

Summer Semester

Session One

AS 215a Agricultural Power Systems

AS 204 Livestock Systems Management

AS 209 Organic Crop Production

Elective / Independent Study

Session Two

AS 215b Agricultural Power Systems

AS 310 Permaculture Design (with certification)

Elective / Independent Study

This recommended course progression assumes students will have had exposure to courses in introductory lab science, ecology, and introductory math.

Please note that all residential students are required to participate in the Sterling College Work Program. For details on this program, please visit our online catalog at http://www.sterlingcollege.edu/cat.

All interested prospective students should contact Sterling College Admissions for information about applying as a non-matriculating student.

This program looks perfect for what I want to do. I have no real need of another degree, especially another bachelor’s degree; what I do need is basic, practical training and experience in the things I need to know in order to properly operate a small, diversified farm. And it looks like that is exactly what this program provides! So I am quite excited ~ bordering on thrilled ~ to have received this information. I am still not going to rush immediately into anything; it’s a major decision and a major step to be taking, and requires some degree of thought and prayer. But this actually makes it more likely than ever that next fall will see me heading north to Vermont.