The Center for Agroecology at UC Santa Cruz offers a six-month training course in organic gardening and farming, "Apprenticeship in Ecological Horticulture," from mid-April to mid-October 1999. It emphasizes hands-on learning, working side-by-side with instructors, and classes in organic horticultural methods. Cultural requirements for vegetable, herb, flower and fruit cultivars are covered, including the specifics of soil preparation, composting, sowing, cultivation, propagation, irrigation, and pest and disease control.  Marketing efforts include an on-site Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) project.  This is a full-time program involving strenuous field and garden work five days a week. Most apprentices choose to live on the Farm in their own tents. Several full and partial tuition waivers are available. Tuition for the 1999 program is $3,000 with additional costs for books, tools, and food.

Application deadline is November 2, 1998 for domestic and Canadian participants. For an informational brochure and application contact: The Center for Agroecology, UC Santa Cruz, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95064;
Tel: (408) 459-2321; Fax: (408) 459-2799; Web site: http://zzyx.ucsc.edu/casfs