Log in
Forgot password

Growing Food

"This course has taught me to look at the whole picture and that I'm not just raising food, but caring for and managing an ecosystem."

- Don LaCroix, Organic Farmer

Gain the confidence to grow your own abundant and healthy vegetables and fruits. Whether for home or market, this comprehensive course details the ecological practices behind raising organic food. 

Exploring all aspects from selecting the right varieties to seeding crops and harvesting, this course taught by experienced organic growers is suitable to all levels from hobby gardeners to budding food farmers.

This online course engages students with practical and hands-on projects, and is guided by experienced professional organic gardeners. No prior education or growing experience is required, but taking either the Organic Master Gardener or Organic Horticulture Specialist course before or during this course is recommended.

This Course Prepares You to: 

  • Analyze growing conditions for spaces of all sizes from containers to crop land

  • Gather and use water efficiently for optimal plant health

  • Apply holistic solutions to plant health problems with pests and diseases

  • Propagate plants, save seeds, store harvests 


This course integrates reading, quizzes and discussions with practical, hands-on assignments. To receive a Certificate of Completion students must contribute to online discussions and satisfactorily complete all graded assignments and quizzes.


Welcome to Gaia College's new website!

If you're a new student, please create an account: Create Account.

If you're a returning student, please login (top right corner).

Select your course below to enrol

Course Details

Outline

Please read the course outline here: Growing Food Course Outline. 

Time Expectations

Students can expect to dedicate 6-10 hours per week to successfully complete this course.

As well, our courses are offered in the continuing education realm and are designed so students can complete them according to their own schedule. The work is divided up into 14 weekly topics and students are expected to complete their assigned work and quizzes by the given deadlines.

Our courses do not use online meetings, so we are not using Google Meet, Zoom or other online meeting applications. If you have any questions about studying online with Gaia College please see our FAQs page

Fees

Fees: $795.00

Fees include:

  • Comprehensive on-line educational materials
  • Unlimited access to our on-line course resources, community center, including libraries, discussion forums and much more.

Payment Options

Prerequisites

There are no academic prerequisites for this course, however students must

    • be proficient in English (written)
    • be comfortable with current computer and internet technology, including spreadsheets and word processing programs
    • have an email account capable of receiving a large number of messages for the duration of the course
    • have access to high-speed internet
    • have access to a computer capable of running a current version of FireFox or Chrome. Tablets and phones are not supported at this time.

It would be also very beneficial to the student to pursue the Organic Master Gardener or Organic Horticulture Specialist, either before, during or after this program.

Evaluations

There are no formal exams in this course, as the emphasis is on developing practical skills and the ability to synthesize information.

To receive a Certificate of Completion students must contribute to all on-line discussions and satisfactorily complete all assignments and quizzes.

Texts

Required Text

Required: The New Vegetable Growers Handbook. Frank Tozer. Green Man Publishing, Santa Cruz, 2013 – ISBN 978-0-9773489-9-2

 

Credits

This program is eligible for Continuing Education Credits (CECs) with the following:

Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA)
Pre-approved: 24 Credits

National Association of Landcare Professionals - American (NALP)
Pre-approved: 24 Credits

Master Gardeners of Ontario Inc. (MGOI)
Pre-approved: 24 Credits

Canadian Society for Organic Urban Land Care (SOUL)
Pre-approved: 6 Credits

Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA)
Pre-approved: 4 Credits

Architectural Institute of British Columbia (AIBC)
Pre-approved: 42 Non-core LUs

This course partially satisfies the requirements of:

  • Gaia College: Elective course for Diploma in Organic Land Care
  • CLD designation offered through CNLA. Successful completion of the course may be used toward the achievement of the requirements for the Education component of the recertification process.

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software