Описание:The course Urban Agriculture focuses on the principles of basic urban farming concepts and techniques to grow food in the city. Students will learn about the sustainable city farm and will be able to apply the knowledge in the real life. They will learn how urban farms can improve access to food, build educational and economic opportunities for communities, and positively impact the urban environment. As well as challenges of urban farming with the focus on the adoption of urban agriculture in Russia and its specifics will be discussed. For the course purpose, urban agriculture is defined as agricultural production that occurs within the cities, only urban crop production will be discussed.
The goal of this course, beyond the content, is to develop critical thinking and research skills. Fo this, modern methods of education will be used: case studies, technologies to better encourage student interactions, including alternative presentation applications (for example, Google slides and Nearpod); gamification (such as Quizzizz, Kahoot); and student response applications (for example Poll Everywhere, Google forms). The classroom components will include lectures, discussion of readings, student presentations, practical work, including field trips.
Deliverables will be submitted to the instructors before the end of the semester and will include an Urban Farm Management Plan Paper and thematic assignments. The course evaluation form will be used after the course completion in order to get feedback to improve the class and give students a better education.
Learning outcomes of the course
By the end of the course student will be able to:
• Demonstrate knowledge of what urban agriculture is, why people practice it, where do they practice, who practices it, and for what reasons;
• Demonstrate knowledge of what ecosystem serveries urban farms offer to cities;
• Think critically about urban farm possibilities and limits in different locations and will be able to form an opinion whether urban agriculture is a way for global food security, or whether it is the concept with no future;
• Select the most suitable agricultural design for specific food-producing goals in an urban environment;
• Use different horticultural techniques to produce food in cities;
• Demonstrate the ability to create an urban agriculture management plan.