Using a hands-on approach in the practice of raising food in urban and suburban areas, College of DuPage students now can work alongside industry professionals in an urban farm setting as part of the College’s new Urban Farming certificate program.
“Urban agriculture is a large movement across the country and it continues to grow,” said Assistant Horticulture Professor Brian Clement. “Restaurants are installing rooftop gardens in order to grow their own fresh fruits and vegetables. Cities and municipalities now have green roofs and expanding urban farms, and Chicago has been a leader in this area for more than a decade. You can even become an entrepreneur and grow organic produce that can be sold at farmer’s markets.”
An extension of the College’s Sustainable Urban Agriculture program, the new seven-credit, stackable certificate includes three courses: Sustainable Urban Vegetable and Herb Production, Hydroponic and Aquaponic Production Systems, and Introduction to Composting.
“By organizing the Sustainable Urban Agriculture program into a series of certificates that build on each other, we can offer incremental milestones for students on the path to associate degree completion,” said Clement. “This approach helps students progress along the education continuum while earning credentials with labor market value.”
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