A full-time one-year programme (subject to approval, University of Plymouth)
Applications open for 2012/13 – please apply before 28 February 2012
Schumacher College is the first in the world to offer a postgraduate programme in Sustainable Horticulture and Food Production.
The programme has been developed in association with the Eden Project, the Centre for Alternative Technology and Plymouth University
From 2012/13 the MSc Sustainable Horticulture and Food Production will (subject to approval) incorporate additional study options and a part-time route, alongside PGDip and PGCert awards. Detailed information on these new features will be published on these pages soon.
For more information about this MA programme please email shfp@schumachercollege.org.uk
Join the growers, leaders and change agents at the forefront of new thinking in Horticulture for resilient and healthy food systems.
This course explores the frontiers of research and practice that will meet the social, ecological and economic challenges our food systems face in the 21st Century.
We offer you a unique and transformative blend of academic and practical learning opportunities from Schumacher College, the Eden Project, the Centre for Alternative Technology and Plymouth University.
This MSc has grown out of our craft-level courses in Sustainable Horticulture, run in association with Duchy College. Click here for more information on these.
“There is no similar course available that provides the insights and tools to facilitate the transition of the horticultural sector towards a resilient future. The coalition of Schumacher College, the Eden Project, and the Centre for Alternative Technology draws together complementing strengths and is an impressive line up.”
Andrew Brown, Executive Director Kadoorie Farm and Botanical Garden, Hong Kong, China
“The course is practical and stretching, both technically and philosophically, and should result in an increased number of well informed and forward thinking existing and aspiring growers – exactly what the horticultural sector needs to face the interest and challenges ahead.”
Phil Stocker, Director of Farmer and Grower Relations, Soil Association
“I did one of the first Level 2 Courses in Sustainable Horticulture at Schumacher College. I’d been looking for a course like this for years and it has completely changed my life. I am now working as a full-time gardener and I absoutely love it!”
Alison Waite, Level 2 Student
“It is inspiring to be surrounded on this course by so many young people who truly care about the fate of our planet and are passionate about finding ways of living that are mutually beneficial to life on earth. As someone who is committed to leading community land projects that share this ethos, I am grateful to Schumacher college and Duchy college for creating a framework to bring us radicals together.”
Wendy, Level 3 Student
“I’ve come from a background in outdoor education and decided to give it all up to undergo the Level 2 Sustainable Horticulture course here at Schumacher because I wanted to start ‘walking the walk’ after spending some time at intentional sustainable communities in the UK and abroad. I can’t think of a better skill in these uncertain times than being able to sustain oneself and others by growing the soil.”
Liam, Level 2 Student
“This course, and the exciting collaboration behind it, will break new ground in providing an opportunity for growers of the future to safeguard our ability to produce into the long term. Food security depends utterly on environmental security which in turn depends on people. The course makes these connections and looks at food in a truly sustainable way from the perspectives of production, ecology and people.”
David Riddle, National Land Use Director, National Trust
“Schumacher College and their collaborating institutions have the necessary depth and breadth to re-think production from first principles. The course combines serious scholarship from science, economics and – that much neglected but essential discipline – metaphysics, and of course with a continuing interest in growing. The MSc will discuss the practicalities of a new form of growing and ensure that the practical know-how is rooted in deep understanding.”
Colin Tudge, Advocate, Journalist and biologist
As global population hits 7 billion in 2011, we urgently need to consider how our food systems will cope in the coming years. Can they produce enough? And are they resilient to an unpredictable climate and reduction in fossil fuels and other high-energy inputs on which they’re currently dependent?
This MSc brings together the thinking, research and practice at the cutting-edge of a global food revolution. Drawing from many different projects and schools of thought around the world, and looking at the roles of large scale food production, biotechnology, ‘human scale’ horticulture and botanical diversity, our starting point is natural systems.
How can we work with nature and biological cycles to improve our horticultural production? And how do we do it without increasing environmental degradation, climate change or consumption of finite resources, the pressing questions of our time.
Since 1991, Schumacher College has pioneered radical thinking in sustainable living, of which food is central. We have attracted the leading teachers, practitioners and activists and have inspired, supported and led thousands of organisations and individuals from many different countries in their quest to achieve a more sustainable and equitable world.
Alongside our long-running short courses and vocational training in sustainable horticulture and food, we recognise the urgent need for a more strategic approach to developing resilient food systems. To address this we have woven together a unique partnership of forward-thinking and acting institutions and individuals that care passionately about the future of food production.
Schumacher College has an international reputation for its holistic and systemic approach to sustainability. It has an ecological horticulture specialism with neighbouring long-term agro-forestry and forest garden trials. It is close to the neighbouring town of Totnes, home of the Transition Movement, a living example of a pioneering human-scale food production project and is also part of the historic Dartington Hall Estate, which runs a sustainable land-use and organic market garden programme.
The Eden Project is a leading world centre for horticulture and has significant expertise in the empowerment and engagement of people.
The Centre for Alternative Technology has an international reputation for applied research into ecological sound technologies and the mitigation and adaptation of the food chain to climate change.
Duchy College is home to the internationally respected Organic Studies Centre and Rural Business School.
Alongside taught input, the strengths of this collaboration include the hugely diverse range of opportunities for dissertation research in horticulture and food chain issues.
The course is validated through the School of Biological and Biomedical Science at Plymouth University, which has a well-established profile in horticulture, nutrition and ecology alongside high quality research and laboratory facilities.
Our teachers include: Jon Rae, Bethan Stagg and Stephan Harding (Schumacher College), Peter Harper (CAT), John Ellison (Eden Project), Colin Tudge, Martin Crawford, Patrick Whitefield and many more to be confirmed.
This course is for growers, entrepreneurs and leaders who want to progress food systems that are ecologically, socially and financially sustainable.
You will have the opportunity to further develop your technical, strategic, and critical skills and the space to regenerate and hone your passion and creativity for a better world.
We are delighted to receive your applications whether you are coming from an undergraduate degree, taking time-out to study mid-career or wanting an opportunity to retrain in a subject area that is of huge importance to our future resilience and well-being.
We are looking for enthusiastic agents of change who are ready to co-create a new sustainable food system in practice. We are looking for those prepared to take a risk and stand on the cutting-edge of new thinking in this area.
Schumacher College welcomes students from all over the world in its diverse mix of cultural experience and age group which allows for rich peer to peer learning.
The course format has been designed to allow students to combine a Post-Graduate Diploma or Masters Course with work and life commitments.
There are six taught modules between September and May, followed by an 18 week dissertation period.
Each module is worth 20 credits and, with the exception of Module 5, are composed of one week reading preparation, two weeks residential at Schumacher College, followed by three weeks for assignments with on-line support.
Module 1 – Living Systems
Module 2 – Research Methods
Module 3 – Plant Science and Botanical Diversity
Module 4 – Ecological Design and Practice in Horticulture
Module 5 – Food Systems in the Post-Carbon World
Module 6 – New Food Economy
Click here for full programme details
Further details can be found on our page dedicated to application and fees – click here
Click here for our Earth Talks 2011 programme
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