Full and partial scholarships are available for upcoming Short Courses offered by the UC Santa Cruz Center for Agroecology. Scholarships aim to support communities historically excluded from technical training opportunities and access to resources.
Short Courses provide intermediate and experienced gardeners and farmers hands-on, land-based professional development and skill-building opportunities focused on specialized agricultural topics. Upcoming Short Course offerings for which scholarships are available include Growing Organic Citrus, taking place February 11 and 12, 2023 with an online introductory lecture on February 9, 2023, and Planning and Planting the Small Orchard Block, taking place February 25 and 26, 2023 with an online introductory lecture on February 23, 2023. Both courses carry UCSC Extension credit.
The Growing Organic Citrus Short Course will be taught by Center for Agroecology instructors Orin Martin and Christof Bernau, and Daniel Paduano, farm manager and co-owner of Abounding Harvest Mountain Farm. Participants will experience demonstrations and hands-on lessons at the UCSC Farm and Alan Chadwick Garden at UC Santa Cruz and Abounding Harvest Mountain Farm in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Scholarship applications for this course will be accepted on a rolling basis and are due by January 25, 2023.
The Planning and Planting the Small Orchard Block Short Course will be taught by Orin Martin and will take place at the UCSC Farm, Chadwick Garden, and Fifth Crow Farm in Pescadero. Participants will learn all aspects of planning and planting an orchard, from site selection and soil preparation to sourcing and planting quality trees, seasonal care, pest/disease/weed management, and winter pruning. Scholarship applications for this course will be accepted on a rolling basis and are due by February 1, 2023.
To learn more about upcoming Short Courses and apply for a scholarship, visit https://agroecology.ucsc.edu/education/short-courses.html. Scholarship funding is provided in part by the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
