Fleming College: Learn | Belong | Become

Please note: Total program tuition and fees are approximately $6940.00 (tuition and fees for 2 semesters of study, plus a $450.00 co-op fee).

Program Highlights

The three-semester Sustainable Agriculuture program is designed for new and beginner farmers seeking an intensive, applied learning experience in sustainable, ecological or natural farming methods. Farming practices in this program are based on the principles of environmental stewardship, farmer profitability, social responsibility and community health.

Following the progression of the farm year, course work will focus on the principles and practices of sustainable agriculture, small farm operations and viability, and the exploration of new and expanding niche markets. You will also examine strategies for direct marketing and new farm business models. The culmination of this learning is the development of your own business case and farm plan. With experienced farmers and practitioners as your guides, the program is enriched by farm field days, site visits, community-based learning activities and excellent resource materials. An 18-week summer co-op experience creates further opportunities for specialization.

Completion of the Sustainable Agriculture program will enable you to:

• Develop a personal philosophy and approach to sustainable farming, using knowledge of historic and contemporary farm practices, food culture and systems.
• Protect and renew soil fertility and health through use of composts, green manures, cover crops, rotation, tillage and soil testing and amendments.
• Develop crop plans and rotations to meet small-scale through field-scale production needs.
• Manage a small-scale market garden and / or greenhouse operation from seed starts through harvest.
• Integrate natural biological cycles and controls in managing plant pathogens, weeds, insect pests and parasites.
• Assess the merits and viability of integrating small-scale livestock production and heritage breeds in the mixed farm operation and manage their husbandry and welfare.
• Plan for, problem-solve and manage the day-to-day events and operations of the farm enterprise, including maintenance and repair, economy in use of resources, development of on-farm systems, animal and crop husbandry and farm labour.
• Meet optimal standards of food safety including handling, cleaning, processing, preserving and storage.
• Develop a viable business case, business plan, and direct marketing strategies to support a non-capital intensive, sustainable farm enterprise.
• Plan for and manage the day to day business operations of the farm enterprise in order to create a dependable farm income.
• Develop an integrated farm plan that accounts for ecological farm practices, environmental protection, biodiversity and wildlife preservation. 
• Develop an approach to whole farm thinking that optimizes the management and use of on-farm resources, and reduces the use of non-renewable resources and purchased production inputs.  

Career Opportunities

Options for employment are diverse. Graduates might start their own small-scale farm operation, or Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program; manage a market garden or farmer’s market; promote agri-tourism and local food; or co-ordinate an urban or community garden, or a farm-to-school program.

Minimum Admission Requirements

• A two-year Ontario College diploma
• Or an equivalency (e.g. two years of university level graduate study, a combination of work experience, formal and informal education and / or service learning such as international work).

You apply to this program through ontariocolleges.ca

You should also read the information on How To Apply

Course	Hours
Semester 1
Co-op Planning & Preparation	15.00
Community Project I	15.00
Food, Agriculture & Community	55.00
Livestock, Crop and Field	80.00
Market Garden and Greenhouse	95.00
Principles of Sustainable Agriculture	60.00
Research, Resource and Project Portfolio I	15.00
Semester 2
On-Farm Co-op	805.00
Semester 3
Community Project II	15.00
Farm Business Case & Farm Business Plan	55.00
Farm Enterprise & Market Research	45.00
Farm Lands Research & Farm Plan	35.00
Farm Marketing Strategy & Plan	35.00
Food Systems, Processing & Production	40.00
Research, Resource and Project Portfolio II	15.00

Semester 1

Co-op Planning & Preparation

Course Number: APST090

Co-op planning and preparation through individual, group, and one-on-one interaction with co-op supervisor.

Units: 15.00
Hours: 15.00

Community Project I

Course Number: AGRI012

Service Learning I - To be completed by end of sem 1

Units: 15.00
Hours: 15.00

Food, Agriculture & Community

Course Number: AGRI001

Module 1 - Program orientation Module 2 - Sustainable agriculture: Overview Module 3 - Using regional agricucltural histories to inform sustainable farm practices today

Units: 55.00
Hours: 55.00

Livestock, Crop and Field

Course Number: AGRI004

Module 13 - Field-scale crop and grain production and the small farm enterprise Module 14 - Small-scale livestock production and the mixed farm operation I: Principles of animal husbandry Module 15 - Pasture management and forage production Module 16 - Small-scale livestock production and the mixed farm operation II: Selection and breeding

Units: 80.00
Hours: 80.00

Market Garden and Greenhouse

Course Number: AGRI003

Module 10 - Farm equipment selection, operation and maintenance (workshop) Module 11 - Market garden and greenhouse operation I: Seed selection and plant propagation Module 12 - Market garden and greenhouse operation II: Tillage, cultivation and irrigation

Units: 95.00
Hours: 95.00

Principles of Sustainable Agriculture

Course Number: AGRI002

Module 4 - Principles of sustainable agriculture Module 5 - Introduction to soil science - the biological, chemical and physical properties of soil Module 6 - Introduction to plant anatomy and plant pathogens Module 7 - Ecological strategies for managing farm insect pests Module 8 - Weed ecology and management Module 9 - Building soil fertility: composting, green manures, cover crops and rotation

Units: 60.00
Hours: 60.00

Research, Resource and Project Portfolio I

Course Number: AGRI005

Cumulative portfolio of relevant research and resources developed across the modules and providing background information for applied co-op and sem. III projects

Units: 15.00
Hours: 15.00

Semester 2

On-Farm Co-op

Course Number: APST091

Co-op placement (projects) - Note: these projects are the implementation of work planned in AGRI2 (modules 4-9), AGRI3 (modules 10-12), AGRI4 (13-16), etc.

Units: 805.00
Hours: 805.00

Semester 3

Community Project II

Course Number: AGRI013

Service Learning II - To be completed by end of sem 2

Units: 15.00
Hours: 15.00

Farm Business Case & Farm Business Plan

Course Number: AGRI009

Module 25 - Farm start-up: the business case and plan Module 26 - Farm start-up: business models and legal, regulatory and financial operations

Units: 55.00
Hours: 55.00

Farm Enterprise & Market Research

Course Number: AGRI007

Module 22 - Culinary tourism (field trip) Module 23 - Farm diversification and niche market opportunities

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Farm Lands Research & Farm Plan

Course Number: AGRI010

Module 27 - Farm start-up: finding and assessing farm land. NB includes new models of land tenure. Module 28 - Farm-start-up: the integrated farm management plan

Units: 35.00
Hours: 35.00

Farm Marketing Strategy & Plan

Course Number: AGRI008

Module 24 - Marketing, distribution and sales strategies for small farm viability

Units: 35.00
Hours: 35.00

Food Systems, Processing & Production

Course Number: AGRI006

Module 18 - Harvest and post-harvest handling (workshop). NB: primary focus on food safety and regulation Module 19 - Food processing, preserving and storage (workshop). NB: primary focus on food safety and regulation Module 20 - Growing for seed production and seed saving (workshop). Module 21 - Organic standards and certification (workshop)

Units: 40.00
Hours: 40.00

Research, Resource and Project Portfolio II

Course Number: AGRI011

Cumulative portfolio of relevant research and resources developed across the modules and in reflection of personal interests and project work.

Units: 15.00
Hours: 15.00