Practicum in Sustainable Agriculture Program Description
The Practicum in Sustainable Agriculture (Practicum) is a hands-on, applied course in certified organic production and small farm business management. In Skagit County, the Practicum is a bilingual training, offered in both English and Spanish. The Practicum takes place over 8 months from early April through mid-November and corresponds with 3 academic quarters – Spring, Summer and Fall. The Spring and Summer quarters focus on production practices and farm operations, while the Fall quarter moves into applied business management.
As a cohort, participants will go through an entire farming season and explore the fundamentals of:
● Certified Organic Production
● Seed Propagation & Greenhouse Management
● Irrigation
● Cultivation & Weed Management
● Soil Health & Fertility Management
● Pest & Disease Management
● Sales & Marketing
● Crop & Farm Planning
● Harvest & Post-Harvest Operations
● Food Safety
Participants will also examine the basics of farm business management, including:
● Business Planning & Set-Up
● Basic Bookkeeping & Financial Recordkeeping
● Profitability Analysis
● Regulatory Compliance
● Access to Capital
● Insurance & Farm Taxes
Upon successful completion of the Practicum, participants will be eligible to apply to participate in the Viva Farms Farm Business Incubator Program. The Incubator Program provides farmers with access to land, infrastructure, equipment, marketing and capital in order to grow a successful farm business. Acceptance into the program is not guaranteed.
For more information about the incubator program, please visit our Incubator Section.
For more information about the Practicum in Sustainable Agriculture and Frequently Asked Questions please visit our Practicum Section on our website or read below.
Application and Review Timeline
Complete the application outlined in the following pages, detailing your previous education and experience in sustainable agriculture and your future goals. References must be provided to confirm applicants’ skill and experience level.
Applications are due February 14, 2025, and decisions will be sent out by March 3, 2025
Viva Farms’ admissions team will review applications and provide notification of acceptance by March 3, 2024. At the discretion of Viva Farms’ admissions team, applicants may be asked to complete additional application steps, including an interview and/or a visit to the Practicum farm parcel in the location where they have applied.
Viva Farms’ staff are available (by appointment) to provide assistance in completing the application. To receive assistance, contact: practicum@vivafarms.org, or call (360) 969-7191 (ext. 810 for King County or ext. 4 for Skagit County)
Tuition
Viva Farms registration is offered in three tuition tiers that cover the entire 8-month program.
- Base Tuition - $1,500
- Community Supporter Tier - $1,500 base tuition plus an additional donation to our scholarship fund, which supports Practicum participants facing financial hardship. Our suggested contribution is $750 (half of our base tuition), but we welcome any donation amount!
- Scholarship Tier - Full and partial scholarships are available based on financial need. If you are in need of financial assistance, please fill out and submit the Scholarship Application by February 14, 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is financial aid available to assist with tuition?
● Viva Farms will not turn anyone away from the program due to lack of funds. Please submit a scholarship application if you are in need of financial assistance.
● Viva Farms can also work with students to set up payment installment plans to pay tuition on a quarterly basis. This option is available for any of the tuition fee tiers.
When does the Practicum begin and end?
● Class begins April 8 and ends November 18, 2025
Where does the Practicum take place?
● The Practicum is offered in person, in Burlington, Skagit County, and in Woodinville, King County.
● Participants will complete the entire course at the location to which they are accepted.
What language is the Practicum taught in?
● Class in Burlington, Skagit County is taught in English with Spanish interpretation.
● Class in Woodinville, King County is taught in English.
What is the time commitment of the program? Can I work a job at the same time?
● The Practicum commitments consist of class once a week plus weekly independent work on the student farm.
● Class: 2 hours of in-person instruction on Tuesday evenings from 5:30-7:30pm.
● Independent hours: Roughly 130 hours of independent work over the course of the 8 month season, for an average of 4 hours per week. The timing of these hours will vary with the farming season. As with any farm, students should anticipate an increase in responsibilities during the peak summer season, from June to September. Independent hours are independent, and can be scheduled and completed around each student’s schedule. Instructors may not be available when students are able to come out, so instructors will offer times outside of class, during business hours, that they are available (“office hours”). Participants wanting to spend more time with instructors should prioritize coming during those hours. Participants wanting to complete their independent hours during the early mornings, evenings, weekends, or outside of normal business hours should expect to be working on their own, and instructors will be available to plan activities and share any necessary instructions in advance of the student’s arrival.
● It is important to remember that the Practicum parcel is part of a working farm. We will be harvesting to order for customers of Viva Farms and must be able to maintain both high quality and consistency. We ask for high commitment and for participants to reliably arrive on time and be ready to work during their scheduled independent hours.
● Finally, the Practicum is a course with a competitive application process and there is often more demand for the program than spaces. Please be realistic in your capacity to commit to the time requirements for the course and know that there is a waiting list of others that would like to take the course.
Do I need to complete the entire program in order to apply to the Viva Farms Business Incubator?
● To participate in the Incubator Program, participants must demonstrate competency in the knowledge and techniques introduced during the Practicum. The Practicum is a valuable way to apply the fundamentals of sustainable production and small-farm business management, as well as to learn the particulars of opening a farm at Viva Farms in a relatively low-risk environment. For that reason, we strongly encourage all prospective incubating farmers to participate in the entire Practicum and complete all of the course requirements, especially independent work hours.
● Preference is given to Incubator applicants based on satisfactory attendance and participation in the Practicum. Space in the Incubator Program is limited, and not guaranteed even upon successful completion of the Practicum.
● There are some cases where Incubator applicants can “test out” of Practicum requirements. To do so, prospective incubator farmers must demonstrate significant previous experience in Organic farm production and business management. Depending on experience, applicants for the Incubator may be required to take only a portion of the Practicum to qualify to apply. For more information, visit VivaFarms.org. For further questions, contact: practicum@vivafarms.org or call (360) 969-7191 ext. 810 (King County) or ext. 4 (Skagit County).