Sustainable Agriculture Online, Summer 2012
Lesson Plan

 Deadline

Lessons

Assignments

6/5 - 6/12

---------Unit I: Industrial Agriculture-------

1.

Brief history of agriculture

Read

 

·         News article on industrial agriculture

Discussion 1, post 1

 

·         Introductions: Who are you and what does ‘sustainable agriculture’ mean to you?

Blog 1

2.

The Green Revolution

Read

 

·         Respond to questions

Discussion 1, post 2

3.

Myths of Modern Agriculture

Video

 

·         Continue discussion

Discussion 1, post 3

 

·         Based on articles and video

Quiz 1

 

·         Briefing Paper: why current agricultural practices are not sustainable

Homework 1

6/12 - 6/19

---------Unit II: Forms of Sustainable Agriculture-------

1.

Permaculture, Polyculture

Read, video

 

·         News article

Discussion 2, post 1

 

·         List of agricultural resources in your area

Blog 2

2.

Biodynamics, Agroecology

Read

 

·         Respond to questions

Discussion 2, post 2

3.

Agroforestry, Indigenous Ag.

Read

 

·         Continue discussion

Discussion 2, post 3

 

·         Based on articles and videos

Quiz 2

 

·         Iceberg Model: Principles of Sustainable Agriculture

Homework 2

6/19 - 6/26

---------Unit III: Environmental Sustainability-------

1.

Soil and Water

Read

 

·         News article

Discussion 3, post 1

 

·         Mind Map of agriculture in your community

Blog 3

2.

Plants

Read

 

·         Respond to questions

Discussion 3, post 2

3.

Animals

Read, Video

 

·         Continue discussion

Discussion 3, post 3

 

·         Based on articles and video

Quiz 3

 

·         Whole farm planning

Homework 3

6/26 - 7/3

-----------------Unit IV: Economic Vitality---------------------

1.

Does Size Matter? Wisconsin case-study

Read

 

·         News article

Discussion 4, post 1

 

·         Case-studies

Blog 4

2.

Local Food Hubs

Read

 

·         Respond to questions

Discussion 4, post 2

3.

Deep Economy

Read

 

·         Continue discussion

Discussion 4, post 3

 

·         Based on articles and video

Quiz 4

 

·         Alternative economic models

Homework 4

7/3 -7/10

-------------Unit V: Social Equity----------------

1.

The 2012 U.S. Farm Bill

Read

 

·         Socialize: farming plans.

Discussion 5, post 1

 

·         Final post, reflections

Blog 5

2.

Global Agricultural Movements

Read

 

·         Respond to questions, continue discussion

Discussion 5, post 2

 

·         Based on articles and video

Quiz 5

 

·         Local Recipes

Homework 5