Feather River College Campus
Environmental Studies

Eco Farming Certificate

Whether you’re looking to turn farming into a full-time profession or simply scale up your home garden, our eco-farming certificate is designed to meet your goals. During the year-long certificate, you’ll learn to start and efficiently operate your own farm, manage existing farms, or work for organizations promoting farm and food education and production.

"The Eco-Farm Certificate has helped me understand how everyone can contribute to biodiversity by growing nourishing edibles."

Leslie Wehrman, 2020 Cohort

Certificate Requirements & Overview

We designed our curriculum with local farmers to create the optimal combination of classroom activities and practical, hands-on learning opportunities in a supportive environment. Over the course of a year, we’ll focus on:

  • Ecological production methods
  • Techniques for high-altitude, diversified crop production and season extension
  • Marketing and business management skills
  • Small farms as a tool for positive social, economic and environmental change

By the end of the certificate, you’ll have the skills to confidently operate a sustainable, small-scale farm and pursue careers in agriculture and food systems.

Why Choose #EcoFarmFRC?

We believe in the power of food. We believe in local. That’s why our curriculum teaches students the skills needed to farm and garden for themselves and others—the privileged and less-than-privileged—in a supportive learning environment designed to build community. Because everyone deserves healthy food.

As one of the few rural community colleges in California, Feather River College is an ideal setting for growing a new generation of leaders of the food movement. Our students will re-envision a food system that values everyone from the farmer to the consumer, respects our planet, and nurtures the connections between people and their food.

Plumas County’s mild mountain climate offers the ideal setting to learn high-altitude growing practices suitable for market growers. Skilled local farmers and strong community support provide a real-world learning laboratory to explore the positive economic, social, and environmental benefits of farming.

About the Certificate

Through the seasons, our local farmers have gained plenty of insights into how to grow delicious, nutritious food at a small scale in a less-than-optimal climate. That’s why we worked closely with them to design our curriculum, which has a focus on learning skills for growing in tough climates. Given our mountain environment, season extension is key!

Courses will take place on the FRC campus and at Rugged Roots Farm—the field site for course work and labs. Rugged Roots Farm is a diversified, small farm located just across Spanish Creek from FRC. The farm features vegetables appropriate for our climate, berries, herbs, and culinary and decorative flowers. Collaboration with Rugged Roots, which is part of the non-profit Lost Sierra Food Project, will provide practical experience in the operation and marketing of small local farm. A community of  local farmers are committed to support you through the learning process as guest instructors, internship hosts, farm tour and activity hosts.

Outcomes

Upon completion of the certificate, students will:

  • Demonstrate application of sustainable agriculture production techniques specific to high altitude crop production.
  • Understand the complexities of managing a small farm, including product and market development, and appropriate technologies.
  • Increase understanding of the food system and how small farms can be used as a tool for positive social, economic, and environmental change.

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