1. Basic Agricultural Practices
Conventional Modern Systems
• GMOs
• Commodity Crops
• Large scale animal production
Organic, Farm to Table
• Eating local
• Sustainability
• The Challenge
Michael Scott
Lead Chef Instructor AESCA
Boulder

2. Michael Scott
Lead Chef Instructor AESCA
Boulder
The modern conventional system
of agriculture
• Initiated after the Great Depression
• Plans to provide food for troops overseas during
WWII
• Construct a viable growing system in Americas Bread
Basket after the devastating effects of the dust bowl

3. Michael Scott
Lead Chef Instructor AESCA
Boulder
The Conventional Agricultural System
• Utilizes mono crops for mass production of food
• Allows for a mechanized system for all aspects of food production
• Utilizes chemical fertilizers and pest control
GMOs
• Genetically modified organisms
• Plants are grown for specific characteristics
• Controversial

4. Michael Scott
Lead Chef Instructor AESCA
Boulder
Large Animal Production
• CAFO: confined animal feeding operation
• Grain based diet
Practices
• Growth hormones
• Antibiotics
Cattle for meat production
Dairy cattle
Pork
Chicken

5. Farm to Table®
THE CHANGING FACE OF AMERICA’S FOOD
SUPPLY –Where Dinner Comes From
Michael Scott
Lead Chef Instructor AESCA
Boulder

6. Sustainable Agriculture
A Year Round Endeavor
Biodynamics
Urban Gardening
Permaculture
Hydroponics
Greenhouses
Vermiculture
Composting
Michael Scott
Lead Chef Instructor AESCA
Boulder

7. The Living Soil
Michael Scott
Lead Chef Instructor AESCA
Boulder

8. Planning a Winter Harvest
Endless
Possibilities
Building a
Life Changing
Externship
in Winter
Michael Scott
Lead Chef Instructor AESCA
Boulder

9. What Plants Need to Grow
NPK – basic nutrients all plants need
• Nitrogen
• Phosphorous
• Potassium
Micro organisms
• Break down nutrients in the soil so plants can absorb them
• Micro nutrients
• Vitamins & minerals
Soil Attributes – different plants require different pH levels
• Acidic soils
• Alkaline soils
Michael Scott
Lead Chef Instructor AESCA
Boulder

10. Feeding the Soil
Compost: Decayed organic material used as a plant fertilizer
• Utilizes the scraps from the garden
• Utilizes scraps from food production
• Provides much of the needed nutrients for new plants
Manure
• Provides additional nutrients
• Helps with soil drainage
• Prevents erosion
• Adds bulk to soil
Other natural fertilizers
• Blood meal
• Seaweed extracts
Michael Scott
Lead Chef Instructor AESCA
Boulder

11. Types of Organic Agriculture
Hugelkulture: large organic material is buried under a mound of
dirt.
• Slow release of nutrients as material decays
• Retains water
Permaculture: Utilizing mainly sustainable growing techniques
and methods
• Adapting to year round growing techniques
• Utilizing all materials to develop a sustainable garden
Biodynamic: A holistic understanding of the agricultural process
• Controversial
• Developed by Rudolph Steiner
Biointensive: Maximum yields using minimum space
• Focuses on fertility of the soil
• Long term goal of a sustainable closed system
Michael Scott
Lead Chef Instructor AESCA
Boulder

12. Michael Scott
Lead Chef Instructor AESCA
Boulder
Knowing when crops are grown
Climate zones: specify what crops can
be grown in a certain region.
• Vegetable crops can be grown in
many climate zones however the
growing season will determine
planting criteria
• Micro climates within a region
create additional growing
possibilities
• Annuals: plants that must be started
from seed or seedlings every season
• Perennials: plants that grow back
after winter hybernation

13. Extending the Growing Season:
green houses and hoop houses
allow for crop production year round
Michael Scott
Lead Chef Instructor AESCA
Boulder

14. The Challenge
Innovative Agriculture
Identify Winter Resources
Sustainable growing practices
Additional resources can be found at the bottom of the syllabus
Michael Scott
Lead Chef Instructor AESCA
Boulder

15. Additional resources can be found at the
bottom of the syllabus page
Michael Scott
Lead Chef Instructor AESCA
Boulder