A 15-hour program will allow students in Beltsville to obtain a certificate in biointensive agriculture.
The Biointensive Agriculture 101 program is offered by the College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences (CAUSES) of the University of the District of Columbia (UDC). The program will take place at the agricultural college’s research facility, the Firebird Farm in Beltsville.
The program covers soil, seeds, planting, cultivation, harvesting, storage, and much more. The course is spread over five Saturdays, with a three-hour session each day.
The first session is devoted to soil and its preparation, where attendees study soils and soil testing/pH/NPK, techniques for cultivation, and soil building. The second class is on seeds and starting seedlings, including seed sources, seed characteristics, planting schedules, how to seed greenhouse trays, direct seeding, and how to grow seedlings.
The third week addresses biointensive gardening, and the fourth week studies plant growth cycles, insects, managing pests, and maintaining a garden. The final class is on harvesting and preserving crops, including how and when to harvest, and ideas about storage and preservation.
The course begins on May 4, and continues May 11, 18, 25, and ends June 1. The fee is $150, and Firebird Research Farm is located at 12001 Old Baltimore Pike in Beltsville. When events like this are planned, organizers will often contact local Print shops to help create course materials.Get a Free Quote for Print
