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| The SU Ag Center held a graduation ceremony for it Sustainable Urban Agriculture Certification Program on September 3 at BREC's Howell Community Park in Baton Rouge. |
Baton Rouge, La. – Fifteen individuals received certificates of completion from the
Southern University Ag Center’s Sustainable Urban Agriculture Certification
Program on September 3.
The ceremony was held at BREC’s Howell Community Park in Baton Rouge
at the conclusion of the five-week training series hosted in conjunction with
Baton Roots Community Farm.
The Sustainable Urban Agriculture Certification Program teaches
participants how to use sustainable agricultural practices in an urban
environment; with hands-on experience.
“This certification program teaches individuals who live in urban and
rural areas how to be sustainable farmers by using the resources they have
around them to farm in small spaces, rather than large open fields,” said
Marlon Ford, Ph.D., Urban Agricultural Specialist and the program’s coordinator.
“There are many communities that are food deserts with no access to fresh
produce or farmer's markets. This training provides individuals with the skills
they need to grow their own vegetables and fruit organically,” added Ford.
“The goal for us at the Southern University Ag Center is to not only
provide our participants with the skills to help their families eat healthier
but we what our participants to share what they have learned with others in
their communities,” expressed Ford.
Topics covered during the series includes: Rainwater Harvesting; Rain
Barrel Construction; Hydroponics Systems; Using drones in Agriculture;
Permaculture and the Environment; Irrigation and Composting; Small Scale
Agriculture; Animal Husbandry: Poultry, Bees and Worms; Vertical Farming;
Maximizing the Use of Land Resources and Infrastructure; Working with City
Governments within City Ordinances; Construction Techniques, Hoop Houses,
Raised Beds; Organic and Sustainable Production and Combatting Diseases and
Man-Made Threats.
Each class is led by experts and professors from the SU Ag Center.
To date, the SU Ag Center has held Sustainable Urban Agriculture
Certification programs in East Baton Rouge, St. Landry, Livingston, Rapides,
Avoyelles, and Natchitoches Parishes.
The Baton Roots Community Farm is a program which provides an
opportunity for the Baton Rouge community to learn sustainable agricultural practices on an urban farm. It was
developed by The Walls Project to inspire health and wellness among all ages
through hands-on gardening with an artistic environment.
For additional information about the Sustainable Urban Agriculture
Certification Program, contact Dr. Marlon Ford at marlin_ford@suagcenter.com.
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