Organic Teachers Academy For educators & land conservation professionals
Complete six courses spread across three years and earn a micro-credential as a certified Sustainable Agricultural Educator.
2024 – Year 1
2025 – Year 2
- Managed Grazing and Organic Livestock
- Organic Crops and Gardening Principles
2026 – Year 3
- Value-Added Foods and Diversified Farms
- Food Systems: Food Quality
Meet your instructor
Valerie Dantoin has been a working organic farmer since 1990. Her family’s Full Circle Farm was recently named “2024 Organic Farm of the Year” by MarbleSeed, at the Midwest’s premier organic conference. The farm was an organic dairy farm for 20 years before diversifying into grass-fed beef, pastured pork and chickens, and a CSA vegetable farm. Val has a master’s degree in Agronomy from UW-Madison and has developed and taught over 25 courses at NWTC since 2009.
Course Details
Organic Soils, Nutrients and Composting
Functional soil is the foundation of organic systems. Build robust, healthy soil through increased organic matter, micro-organism activity, and nutrient cycling. Explore composting techniques, organic fertilizer sources, soil health and conservation.
Dates and times:
- April 5: Virtual LIVE from 3:30-4:30 p.m.
- April 5 through August 7: self-paced
- August 8: in-person
Virtual Live sessions will be recorded for those who cannot make the initial class.
Sustainable Agriculture; Practices and Issues
Compare organic and sustainable agricultural practices with conventional agriculture. Learn how organic farmers manage crops and animals without antibiotics, hormones, herbicides, pesticides or GMOs. Explore these questions:
- Can we feed the world with lower-impact farming?
- How does farming affect the climate?
- How does climate change affect farming?
Dates and Times:
- April 5: Virtual LIVE from 3:30-4:30 p.m.
- April 5 through August 8: self-paced
- August 9: in-person
Virtual Live sessions will be recorded for those who cannot make the initial class.
Academy Details
Cost: FREE
Due to a generous grant from an anonymous donor, we can offer these courses to you no charge. You will also receive a stipend of $150 upon satisfactory completion of each class. One book is required for each class. Ordering details are included with registration confirmation.
Capacity: Enrollment is limited to the first 25 people who apply
Questions: For information about curriculum, contact Valerie Dantoin, Sustainable Food and Ag Systems Instructor, at valerie.dantoin@nwtc.edu. For any other questions contact Bonnie Willems at bonnie.willems@nwtc.edu.