permaculture

["Lawrence F. London, Jr." <lfl@intrex.net>]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Agroecology International Online Course (27 October - 12 December 
2003)
Date: Sat, 6 Sep 2003 15:09:35 +0300
From: Christos Vasilikiotis <adriane@OTENET.GR>
To: SANET-MG@LISTS.IFAS.UFL.EDU

Course Announcement.
Please feel free to forward to anyone interested.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Agroecology International Online Course

October 27 - December 12, 2003

A new international online course on the theory and practice of
agroecology and its applications to the design of biodiverse and
sustainable agroecosystems is being offered this fall.
This web-based six-week course is appropriate to agricultural
professionals (researchers, extension agents and advanced students).
The course will cover the theoretical and practical aspects of
sustainable agriculture such as the role of biodiversity in
agriculture, ecological pest management, organic soil management and
the design of sustainable agricultural systems through crop
diversification schemes.

COURSE WEB SITE:
<http://www.agroeco.org/agroecology>

FACULTY:
Miguel A Altieri, Ph.D
Professor of Agroecology,
University of California, Berkeley, USA

Christos Vasilikiotis, Ph.D
Researcher & Lecturer in  Biological Agriculture,
Higher Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki, Greece

Clara I. Nicholls, Ph.D
Research Fellow,
University of California, Berkeley, USA

COURSE FEES:
¤ 350.00      (Farmers and students ¤ 200.00). Fees shown are in euros (¤ ).
(See registration form for paying in US Dollars ($) and other payment details)

COURSE DATES:           October 27 - December 12, 2003

REGISTRATION & PAYMENT DEADLINE:        October 24, 2003
To register, please fill out the course registration form which is
available from the course web site
(<http://www.agroeco.org/agroecology>).
For further info send e-mail to christos@porfyra.com

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

The course is organized to provide an understanding of the knowledge
and methodology necessary to design ecologically based sustainable
agricultural systems. The goal of agroecological design is an
agroecosystem that mimics the structure and function of local natural
ecosystems. It aims for a system with high species diversity and a
biologically active soil, one that promotes natural pest control,
nutrient recycling and high soil cover to prevent resource losses.

During the duration of the course we will cover the theoretical and
practical aspects of sustainable agriculture such as the role of
biodiversity in agriculture, ecological pest management, organic soil
management and the design of sustainable agricultural systems through
crop diversification schemes. We will also address the social and
economic dimensions of agroecology using case studies from developing
and developed countries.

The course will consist of six units which will include weekly
reading assignments and links to resources that will allow students
to explore topics of interest in greater detail. Students will have
access to an online library of course material on the course web site
that would help them develop a deeper understanding of agroecological
design. Throughout the course, students are expected to participate
in online discussion groups and explore the various agroecological
resources available over the Internet by responding to assigned
questions and preparing case studies. Course instructors will
facilitate discussions in current issues and encourage students to
engage in a productive dialogue.

Students who satisfactorily complete all assignments will be awarded
a certificate of completion in Agroecology from the Agroecology
Program, University of California, Berkeley

Participants should have reliable access to the Internet and a
working knowledge of the English language.

For further info send e-mail to christos@porfyra.com

--
---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*
  Christos Vasilikiotis         christos@porfyra.com
 Thessaloniki, GREECE


"An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind."
-Mahatma Gandhi
________________________________________

*** The earth laughs in flowers ***