The Program

Ecological Farming training includes:

• 5-10 hours per week of ecological farming curriculum

• 10-20 hours per week of hands-on field work

• Field trips to local places of interest including farms, museums and markets

• Group discussions on various topics of interest

• Final student projects to be presented at the end of the program

Ecological Farming curriculum topics include:

• Native plants and environment of Tecate

• Understanding and managing soil health and fertility

• Making and using compost

• Working with small-scale hand tools

• Soil cultivation and bed preparation

• Drip irrigation

• Raising chickens and goats

• Propagation- direct seeding, transplanting and grafting

• Maintaining a balanced farm ecosystem

• Greenhouse management

Farm-to-table Training:

Farm-to-table training takes place in our state-of-the-art cooking school, La Cocina Que Canta, as well as our local farm-to table café, El Cafecito. Participants spend one morning a week with a resident or visiting chef and through a series of hands-on cooking classes and energetic group discussion, learn about using recently harvested produce in the kitchen.

Farm-to-table curriculum topics include:

• Preserving the harvest- fermenting, canning, pickling, drying etc.

• Farmers and chefs working together to plan a farm to table garden

• Cooking and eating with the changing seasons

• Eating nutrient dense, balanced meals as part of a healthy lifestyle

Additional Program details:

• What else is included in the Soil-to-Table Certification program?

• Two Saturdays at Rancho La Puerta to enjoy fitness classes, pool time, presentations from visiting and resident presenters and farm fresh meals from the dining room

• Shared housing at Tres Estrellas

• Organic produce from the garden

• Some delicious meals provided by La Cocina Que Canta and El Cafecito