COURSE DESCRIPTION

If you’re here, chances are you are passionate about agriculture. We are too! We also suspect that if you’re interested in agroecology, specifically, you’re already attuned to questions of how your practices relate to and support the ecosystem at large.  And perhaps you’ve felt tension between the viability of your enterprise and the big picture - something we call “right livelihood.” You’re not alone in this - while we love and are passionate about agroecology and work with plenty of others who feel the same, we understand that it’s far from easy to maintain the balance that this work requires.  Agriculture brings to life the fundamental elements of culture, stewardship and resilient interdependence, and many people around the world rely on growing food for the income required to purchase other necessities. Agriculture is also one of the biggest and most ecologically damaging modern industries. Where does this leave us and the countless people who rely on agriculture for their livelihoods? 

In this course, we explore how agroecology - rather than simply agriculture or agribusiness -  can pave a viable middle path between our own livelihoods and enterprises and the wellbeing of our environments, elements that may seem in competition with each other but are instead deeply interdependent. We'll spend time defining agroecology and understanding what makes it so important and review key practices that will help you plan a future enterprise or shift an existing one to align with agroecological principles. We will also reflect on what makes a good life, and sharpen the skills we need to succeed as entrepreneurs in a deeply imperfect and unequal economy.

One of the most important tools to help you approach the process of starting an agroecological enterprise is a business plan. In this course, we introduce  and demystify the business plan structure as a framework that can help achieve enterprise viability. We look at the business of agriculture from a lens of ‘right livelihood’ so that we differentiate between an extractive mindset and an approach to business that is grounded in values. By the end, you will not only understand what you need to do to sustain an agroecological business, but how to do it well.

Learning Objectives: 

This course provides an opportunity for learners to:

• Articulate the benefits of challenges of running a farm business that focuses on sustainable practices.
• Identify the business considerations needed to run a successful and profitable agroecological operation.
• Explain the value of financial health for business longevity.
• Explain the unique relationship between agroecological principles - including resilience and design - and enterprise viability.
• Practice using design principles to plan enterprise and its place in the wider ecosystem.
• Practice using the business model canvas to refine a farm business idea and plan for financial health.
• Identify crops to include in a farm operation based on market and community considerations.

This course was created through and is part of :

COURSE-AT-A-GLANCE

The topical overview of the course below provides an early taste of what you can expect as you embark on this 16 module learning journey. For more detailed descriptions of each module, toggle to the "Lessons" tab above.

• Module 1 - Farming for a Good Life
• Module 2 - What Defines an Agroecological Farm Business?
• Module 3 - Designing Agroecosystems for Economic Viability and Right Livelihood
• Module 4 - Business Models for a Middle Path
• Module 5 - Financial Planning for Agroecological Farmers
• Module 6 - Resilience

AUDIENCE

This course is designed for those interested in making a business out of agriculture, but are not interested in large-scale agribusiness. It is ideal for anyone who recognizes that the long-term wellbeing of the land is inseparable from their overall livelihoods. If you're looking for logistical support in planning your enterprise, learning more about agroecology in practice, or are looking for support in weaving together a good business and a good life, we encourage you to enroll.

COURSE FEE

The total and regular cost for this course is $99.  This fee includes the cost of course tuition and materials.

COURSE DEVELOPERS - Nayla Bezares

Nayla was born and raised in Puerto Rico and has worked within multiple aspects of food systems throughout the United States. She understands that building resilient food systems requires cohesiveness between efforts to achieve sustainable outcomes for people and the planet. She hopes her research can support the development of cohesive policies. She is currently a food systems researcher and project manager at the Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust, an organization dedicated to investing, facilitating, and building the capacity of its citizens' well-being through innovation-driven enterprises, science, technology, and public health. Nayla holds a Master's degree in Agriculture, Food and Environment from Tufts University. 

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DISCLAIMER: Course descriptions on this webpage are for informational purposes only. Content may be updated or changed as planning evolves. Sterling College reserves the right to alter the program specifics, including details about course content, instructors, collaborations, field trips, facilities and pricing, at any time without notice.