Students will begin by exploring Joseph Campbell’s ideas on how myths shape culture, offering insight into the connection between human narratives and the development of agricultural systems. They will also examine the economic, environmental, and social consequences of regenerative agriculture, introducing and defining regenerative agriculture along with its origins, key approaches, and various schools of thought. This week will highlight the role of agriculture in shaping human history and its potential to address global challenges.

This week covers the impact of agriculture on soil health, including soil types, profiles, habitats, and fertility. Students will define the soil and its crucial functions, exploring the evolving definitions of soil health, the carbon cycle, and the soil community. The course will also discuss psychoanalytic understandings of human health and the parallels between soil and human well-being. Students will focus on how to restore soils and maintain long-term fertility through regenerative methods.

Students will learn about the environmental consequences of industrial livestock farming and the role of livestock in ecosystem health. This module will cover ethical and holistic animal husbandry, with a focus on integrated poultry management. Topics will include animal behavior, flock planning and management, henhouse design, and rotational grazing for poultry. Students will learn how to plan, manage, and maintain healthy, ethical livestock systems that contribute to farm sustainability.

This week focuses on understanding the forest ecosystem and the symbiotic relationships within it, such as mycorrhizal fungi. Students will learn about orchard design and site selection, considering factors like trees, wind, and forest ecology. The course will cover orchard horticulture, biodiversity in the orchard, and the role of beneficial pests in maintaining ecological balance. Students will explore classical pest control methods, the holistic approach to disease, and orchard guilds for managing companion planting and diversity.

The psychological perspective on pests will be explored through James Hillman’s archetypal psychology, addressing how pests might symbolize ecological imbalances. Agriculturally, students will learn about the key principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), which includes cultural, biological, and classical control methods. This week will delve into the role pests play in ecological balance, the formation of symptoms (pest outbreaks), and the various strategies to manage pest populations in a regenerative system.

In this module, students will learn about various planting and companion planting techniques, seeding strategies, and the biology of plant families. The course will cover propagation and harvesting techniques, along with the evolution and function of tool use in farming. Additionally, students will explore irrigation techniques, the small and large hydrologic cycles, and the impact of water use in different climate zones. The concept of keyline agriculture will be introduced as a way to optimize water flow and reduce irrigation-related challenges.

In our final week, students will present their own farm or homestead design, developed over the course of the program. Drawing on the concepts explored in regenerative soil health, integrated pest management, animal husbandry, water systems, and seasonal planning, each participant will share their vision for a resilient and relational farming system. This culminating exercise invites students to explain the interconnections between the elements in their design—highlighting ecological principles, practical strategies, and personal values. Peer feedback and group reflection will close out the course, honoring each participant’s unique contribution and cultivating a sense of community moving forward.