An experimental new course, Organic Agriculture: Theory and Practice, is available for nonmajor graduate credit and is seeing high enrollment from a variety of demographics.

Thirty-five students in agricultural and other relevant disciplines are taking the course, including working farmers and ISU Extension educators, who can either attend the class in person or participate in it through live video and PowerPoint presentations on WebCT.

“We’re awfully excited with participation not only here, but in the field,” said Jerry DeWitt, director of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture and co-teacher of the course.

DeWitt said part of his job as director is to ensure ISU Extension educators receive the training they are required to have in sustainable agriculture.

All county ISU Extension educators, he said, are required by law to be trained in sustainable agriculture, so they can serve as adequate resources for farmers and members of the general public who have questions about sustainability.

The course is co-listed as Agronomy 484X/584X, Horticulture 484X/584X, and Sustainable Agriculture 584X.

Students from agronomy; agriculture business; creative writing; environment, community and regional planning; philosophy; and religion represent some of the varying perspectives in the course.

Students in this diverse group meet for class every Tuesday evening in Curtiss Hall to broaden their knowledge of sustainable agriculture.

This diversity vindicates a general observation of Dewitt’s about principles of sustainability, which are discussed in the course.

“Sustainability has rapidly moved beyond the farm gate,” he said. “I’m very pleased that it’s gone in that direction.”

According to the Leopold Center’s Web site, the term “sustainable agriculture” has ecological, economic and social implications, and applies “only when the environment, its caretakers and surrounding communities are healthy.”

The goal of Organic Agriculture: Theory and Practice is to provide information about the historical roots of organic agriculture, the political policies that shape organic agriculture certification, practical skills and ethical issues, according to the course packet.

Suzi Bernhard, senior in agriculture business, said she’s taking the course because she hopes to eventually purchase land and farm.

“I like [the course] a lot,” Bernhard said. “It’s really good application, because a lot of classes are really theoretical, but this has good direct application that you can go home and put in use.”