Environmental Landscaping: Sustainable Horticulture and Landscaping

The Environmental Landscaping program prepares students to work with plants in a sustainable way in a wide diversity of environments: from residential and commercial landscapes, gardens, greenhouses to small farms, and for various purposes: from aesthetic, to environmental conservation to commercial purposes. The curriculum addresses plant propagation, landscape, garden and farm design installation, operation and maintenance, equipment operation and business. Classes cover information which includes plant, soil and water use of diverse range of mechanical and power landscaping, gardening and farming technology to modern use of electronics and computers. The program has facilities that include classrooms, greenhouses, plant collection, construction and irrigation facilities and grounds, including an organic farm to practice sustainable landscaping, construction, gardening and farming. The program has a wide range of instructors with experience in theory and practice in plant science. People who want to work with plants for pleasure or as a career benefit from taking classes in the Environmental Landscaping program. Students also can transfer to four-year colleges. Career Opportunities: People who take our classes find careers in a wide variety of industries related to plants. From sustainable landscaping, gardening and farming to forestry, natural resource management or to start their own plant related businesses.

Based on the North Bay Sub-Region Educational Supply information provided by COE for June 2018 regarding the Environmental Landscaping Occupations Labor Market Information Report, the College of Marin expects 5 -10 students per a year to earn their A.S. Degree in the Environmental Landscaping: Sustainable Horticulture and Landscaping program.

Environmental Landscaping in Sustainable Horticulture and Landscaping A.S. goals and objectives are: A. To train students in concepts and techniques necessary to design, build, maintain and manage, sustainable environments that include plants such as landscapes, gardens, farms, forests. B. To train students to develop careers in sustainable landscaping, gardening, farming or forestry. C. To train students in business and interpersonal skills to find employment in landscaping, gardening, farming or forestry or to start their own businesses. D. To educate students on the principles and techniques to work in plant-related fields in an ecologically, socially and economic sustainable way. Analysis was prepared by the San Francisco Bay Center of Excellence for Labor Market Research in June 2018.  This dataset including the North Bay Sub-region (Marin, Sonoma, Solano, and Napa Counties) as well as San Francisco County.  The Environmental Landscaping program at College of Marin will train workers for varying roles. The program aligns with TOP code 0109.10 and prepares students for employment in horticulture, landscaping, gardening and farming industries which employ 8754 individuals in the region and have a projected growth of 3% resulting in 290 new positions by 2022 (Source: EMSI 2018.2).  Based on the Supply Table provided by the Centers for Excellence local educational providers have had an average of 13% completers annually moving into the workforce from horticulture and or landscaping certificate and degree programs. This indicates an undersupply in the region. After earning this degree students should be able to: 1. Describe basic techniques and practices in sustainable horticulture and landscaping. 2. Know characteristics of plants for sustainable landscapes and gardens. 3. Know how to establish and maintain plants in landscapes and gardens. 4. Know how to install plants in landscapes and gardens. 

ELND 100. Career skills in landscaping, Horticulture and farming                                        1.50 ELND 101. Introduction to Sustainable Landscaping, horticulture and farming                     3.00 ELND 115A. Plants for Marin Landscapes I                                                                             1.50 ELND 115B. Plants for Marin Landscapes II                                                                            1.50 ELND 150. Integrated Pest Management I                                                                                1.50 ELND 160. Soil Ecology and Management                                                                              3.00 ELND 191. Basic Construction Skills- Raised beds                                                                 1.50 ELND 190. Landscape and Garden Irrigation I                                                                        1.50 ELND 180. Landscape Business Skills and Estimating                                                            1.50 ELND 195. Landscape, garden and farm equipment and tools: Use and maintenance            1.50                                                                                                                  TOTAL                    18.00 

This is a revision for our existing Associates in Science degree for Environmental: Landscaping: Landscaping, Organic Farming and Gardening. This program requires one class, ELND 160, that could transfer to a CSU institution, but this is not a AS-T program.

College / Program / Who Contacted / Outcome of contact: 1. Napa Valley College / Viticulture / Dianna Chiabotti / No conflicts 2. Santa Rosa Junior College / Sustainable Ag / Jerry Miller / No conflicts