Horticulture/Arboriculture/Landscape/Organic Farming (HOR)

Practical experience with seasonal horticulture activities in the areas of container nurseries, greenhouses, landscape management, arboriculture, and organic food production.

This course is a survey of the various career options available to students in the horticulture industry, with emphasis on nursery and greenhouse production, retail nursery, organic fruit and vegetable production, and landscape maintenance/installation. Includes field trips to local businesses. Oregon State University transfer course.

Essential organic farming practices, including seasonal activities such as crop rotation, cover cropping, four-season production strategies, soil testing, and calculating soil amendment needs. Class lecture, field trips, and lab are all included components of this course. This format has been selected to create a hands-on experience for each student in seasonal crop production.

Overview of safe practices in the horticulture workplace which will reduce the chance for accidents and injuries.

This course engages students with the laws, regulations, and best management practices used to control pests, weeds, and diseases. Focus on applicator safety, environmental protection, and storage and handling requirements. Prepares students to sit for the Oregon Pesticide Laws & Safety exam.

Environmental influences on plant growth, crop scheduling, greenhouse structures and equipment. Emphasis on foliage and flowering potted plant production.

Principles and practices of sustainable landscape maintenance, plant growth and development, soil-water-fertilizer management, pruning, turf, pest control, diagnosis of problems in trees and shrubs, and maintenance scheduling.

This course provides a basic knowledge of aspects of harvesting, handling, storing, and marketing of produce from small-scale, organic operations. Topics include: food safety laws and practices, harvest and storage requirements for a variety of crops, factors that impact quality and storage ability, post-harvest biology, Organic certification standards, and regulations for selling value added products. Students in this class will be actively harvesting, washing, packing, and selling produce from the Student Organic Farm.

Methods used in building water features with emphasis placed on design, material selection, construction and maintenance considerations.

Methods used with lighting in the residential landscape, with emphasis placed on design, material selection, installation and maintenance considerations.

Methods used in building walls, patios and walkways out of stones and pavers, with an emphasis placed on design, material selection, construction and maintenance considerations.

Methods used in building wood fences and decking with emphasis placed on design, material selection, construction and maintenance considerations.

Covers plant anatomy and reproduction techniques of plants from seed, cuttings, grafting, division, and micro-propagation (tissue culture). Offers an in-depth overview of plant propagation practices.

Emphasis on dormant pruning of fruiting and ornamental plants. Pruning and training techniques for grapes, fruit trees, and both evergreen and deciduous ornamental trees and shrubs. Basic woody plant anatomy, growth and development.

Practical experience with seasonal (winter) horticulture activities in the areas of container nurseries, greenhouses, and landscape management.

Reproduce food plants using a variety of methods, including seed, cutting and grafting techniques. Instruction will focus on methods suitable for sustainable farm operations.

Essential organic farming practices, including seasonal activities such as ground preparation and planning for crop production. Also covers farm business structures, financial management, recordkeeping, and marketing and distribution techniques. Field trips to area farms included. Class lecture, field trips, and lab are essential components of this course. This format has been selected to create a hands-on experience for each student in seasonal crop production.

Soil characteristics and management, including nutritional elements and the relationship between the soil and plant growth.

Essential organic farming practices, including seasonal activities such as production of transplants, direct seeding, pest, disease, and weed management strategies, bed preparation, equipment operations, and soil, water and fertilizer management. Class lecture, field trips, and lab are all included in this course. This format has been selected to create a hands-on experience for each student in seasonal crop production.

Detailed study of environmental influences on individual crops, their requirements, scheduling, including annual, biennial, and perennial plant production.

Practical experience with seasonal (spring) horticulture activities in the areas of container nurseries, greenhouses, and landscape management.

Regionally appropriate fruit and berry production practices that are suitable for urban areas and small farms. Class will utilize the Home Orchard Education Center demonstration arboretum located on campus.

Students will learn to identify 50 native plants within the cultural and ecological context of the Pacific Northwest bioregion.

The identification, propagation, selection and garden culture as well as individual attributes of herbaceous perennial plants, including the evolution of perennial garden design and current gardening styles. Oregon State University transfer course.

Learn the components of, and develop an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan for landscape, nursery, greenhouse or organic farming. The plan will incorporate pest detection, control practices and an evaluation of effectiveness.

Utilizes database, spreadsheet, word-processing, PowerPoint, social media and other computer programs for record keeping and management and marketing for horticulture businesses.

An overview of the practical aspects of plant growth and development, classification systems, plant breeding and environmental factors in managing plant growth.

Materials and practices in landscape installation, including plan reading, materials take-off, estimating, bidding, scheduling, grading, construction materials, and plant installation. Provides an overview of Oregon state landscape contracting and licensing requirements.

Management of trees in residential, commercial, and urban landscapes. Follows course materials prepared by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). Topics covered include tree anatomy, selection, installation, response to damage, soil characteristics, pruning techniques and diagnosis of pest problems. Prepares student for Arboriculture II.

Identification of deciduous trees, shrubs, and groundcovers, including their cultural requirements in the landscape. Oregon State University transfer course.

Identification of conifers and broadleaf evergreens, shrubs, and groundcovers, including their cultural requirements in the landscape.

Identification of flowering trees, shrubs, and groundcovers, including their cultural requirements in the landscape. Oregon State University transfer course.

Introduction to landscape planning, including basic drafting skills, grading, drainage, and site planning.

The selection, safe operation, and maintenance of power driven machines in horticultural operations. Includes hands on experience with mowing equipment, rototillers, chain saws, edgers, shears, tractors, chippers, and skid steer.

Principles of irrigation system design for various situations, including underground, above-ground, residential, commercial, and urban farm systems.

Further skill development in drawing, site analysis, and design, including two & three dimensional design concepts. Graphic exercises will be included as well as the study of creative and practical solutions for various site and program requirements of small commercial and residential landscape sites.

Identification and life cycles of weeds commonly found in landscapes, nurseries, and farms.

Develop skills to identify common pest and insect life stages that damage or benefit plants in the landscape, farm, and greenhouse.

Identification of ornamental plant diseases which occur in greenhouses, landscapes, nurseries, and farms.

The safe use of rope and saddle tree climbing procedures will be covered through lecture, discussion, and field practice. For beginner to moderately experienced climbers. May be repeated for up to 3 credits.

Materials, equipment, and methods used to install and repair irrigation systems in landscape areas.

Overview of landscape design features that will benefit the natural environment, provide habitat for wildlife and require minimal inputs of energy, water and other materials. Includes basic design concepts, design terminology and techniques, as well as ideas for marketing of sustainable designs.

Overview of the fundamental principles and practices of organic fruit and vegetable production in the Pacific Northwest.

Study of herb plant propagation and garden use. Identification of herbs, parts of the plant, garden culture, planning, site requirements and care of plants are covered.

Instruction in making herbal teas, skin lotion, tincture, infused oil, vinegar, spritzers and herbal mixes. Instruction includes the use of specific ingredients, methods for effective usage and storage, and their importance.

Instruction will focus on how to use common herbs and spices in a variety of edible forms.

Evaluation, assessment and management of trees in the urban environment. Covers monetary and ecosystem values for trees, property development considerations, tree appraisals, tree inventories, risk assessments, and crew management. Together with Arboriculture I, this class will prepare students for passing the ISA Certified Arborist exam.

Theory and practice in diagnosing specific biotic and abiotic causes of poor tree health. Includes identification of symptoms, use of monitoring tools and effective customer communications.

Experience with the implementation of basic requirements, equipment and techniques employed by arborists who work aloft. Covers personal protective equipment, safe operation, and common cutting techniques in accordance with current industry standards. Students operate chainsaws in a variety of field exercises, and will gain exposure to other pieces of industry equipment, such as chipper, truck and trailer, and aerial lift. Students will participate as members of a crew, gaining introductory experience in tree pruning, rigging, hardware installation, electrical hazard awareness, aerial rescue, ground work, and work site management.

Experience best management practices in Plant Health Care for trees and shrubs of the Pacific Northwest. Synthesize information from pre-requisite courses to evaluate work sites for risk, plant health, and pathogens. Propose maintenance schedules and adapt them based on customer interaction. Working as a team, maintain landscapes on CCC properties using hand and power tools such as shears, saws, mowers, chippers, and sprayers.

Experience with the implementation of intermediate requirements, using equipment and techniques employed by arborists who work aloft. Reinforces personal protective equipment, safe operation, and common cutting techniques in accordance with current industry standards. Students operate chainsaws in a variety of field exercises, and will gain exposure to other pieces of industry equipment, such as chipper, truck and trailer, and aerial lift. Students will participate as members of a crew, gaining additional experience in tree pruning, rigging, hardware installation, electrical hazard awareness, aerial rescue, ground work, and work site management.

On-the-job experience in the student's major course of study. Students are allowed to enroll after completing nine credits of horticulture courses. May be repeated for up to 6 credits. Required: Student Petition.

On-the-job experience in the student's major course of study. Students are allowed to enroll after completing nine credits of horticulture courses. May be repeated for up to 12 credits. Required: Student Petition.

On-the-job experience in the student's major course of study. Students are allowed to enroll after completing nine credits of horticulture courses. May be repeated for up to 6 credits. Required: Student Petition.

Experiential learning of organic farming techniques, while working on the Student Farm. Students learn ecological and sustainable practices, principles, and management strategies. This course includes the seasonal activities of a working, small scale Organic Farm: seed sowing, planting, cultivation, irrigation, harvest, packing, selling at farmers market and to restaurants. An important aspect of this course is participating in the on-campus, weekly farmers market. All tasks are hands-on and guided by the instructor. This format has been selected to create a hands-on experience for each student in seasonal crop production and marketing.

On-the-job experience working with an agricultural business/farm. Students are allowed to enroll in CWE after completing nine credits of Organic Farming courses. May be repeated for up to 6 credits. Required: Student Petition.

This course gives students an opportunity to gain knowledge in a specific area relevant to the field of horticulture, landscaping, arboriculture or organic farming. This topic will be pulled from a comprehensive list of areas identified by horticulture professionals as having importance for students pursuing work in the field. Variable Credit: 1-3 credits. May be repeated for up to 6 credits. Required: Student Petition.