Cindy has developed and taught these 3 credit classes at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College in Goochland, Virginia beginning in 1999.  As of Summer 2010 she has left the college to spend more time researching complete diet mini-farming and to attend to a multitude of other projects.  Daughter Betsy will take over teaching the classes Fall 2010.

Summer Semester

Organic Gardening Resources  (not offered in 2010)
Experience work in the GROW BIOINTENSIVE garden at the college harvesting garlic, onions, potatoes, and grains, and managing other crops and compost.  Also, learn about those people who have made a difference in the sustainable agriculture movement over the past 60 years, including J.I. Rodale, Robert Rodale, Gene Logsdon, Ruth Stout, Eliot Coleman, and others.  Taught Wednesday evenings

Fall Semester

HRT 134 Four Season Food Production
Plan your garden with cover crops to feed the soil and learn to grow for a four season harvest with season extension techniques.  This class examines the local food supply and includes seed saving, researching new vegetables, and nutrition.  Two class times available--Wednesday mornings and evenings.

HRT 238  Growing for Market Mini-farming
Explore growing produce for direct marketing to restaurants, at farmers markets, or through a CSA.  Students will develop a marketing plan of their own.  Includes maintenance of GROW BIOINTENSIVE garden on campus. Prerequisite HRT 130.
Tuesday afternoons

Spring Semester

HRT 130  Introduction to Biointensive Mini-farming
Learn the basics of composting and organic vegetable gardening using biointensive methods.  Learn how to get more food from less space and when to expect the harvest as you develop your garden plan.  Biointensive methods include close spacing, wide beds, and growing crops that sustain both you and the garden.  Permaculture, a design system that makes the best use of resources for a property, is studied.  Students will develop their own permaculture plan.  Two class times available--Wednesday mornings and evenings.

HRT 239  Complete Diet Mini-farming
Is it possible to eat your entire diet from your garden?  Explore how to do that sustainably.  Includes grains which produce carbon for the garden with their stalks and food for you.  This class takes a serious look at the nutrition your body needs and what is supplied by the crops.  The emphasis is on how to grow your diet in the smallest space, while at the same time growing the right amount of compost crops to feed the garden.  Learn to grow and prepare important crops you are unfamiliar with.  Students will maintain the GROW BIOINTENSIVE garden on campus.  Prerequisite HRT 130.  Tuesday afternoons.

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