WSU offers class on sustainable farming

A course for individuals and couples who want to start or redesign a small farm enterprise, the “Cultivating Success Sustainable Small Farming and Ranching” course starts Wednesday, Sept. 8 and will be held every Wednesday evening, from 6-9 p.m. through Nov. 24, with some weekend farm visits.

The course helps participants take a realistic look at their goals and resources and decide what type of small acreage enterprise is right for them.

Students are exposed to all types of farming and ranching systems with guest farmers speaking to the class, and field trips to local farms.

Participants with practical farming experience who complete this course and the follow-up farm business planning course to be offered in the spring, 2011, will be eligible to lease plots at Viva Farms (www.Viva- Farms.org) a farm business incubator that encourages farm entry by providing land, equipment, shared infrastructure, technical assistance, marketing support and farm financing to new and immigrant farmers.

To accommodate immigrant farmers, this year’s course will be taught in English and Spanish, using the “adult dual-language model,” i.e., some portions of the course will be in English with Spanish translation and a few will be in Spanish with English translation.

The course fee is $250; some scholarships and worktrades are available.

The course is presented at the WSU Mount Vernon Research Center, 16650 State Route 536, Mount Vernon.

To register, or for more information e-mail sschaffer@ wsu.edu or call Sarita Schaffer at 206-914-7948. Space is limited.