Cookies on NWTC's Website

Organic Teachers Academy For educators & land conservation professionals

Home » Organic Ag Academy
Whether you teach in a formal classroom, extension workshops, or one-on-one with farmers, you’ll get the tools you need to teach organic and sustainable agriculture in this in-depth professional development opportunity. Download pre-packaged lectures and other materials that suit your needs and teaching style.

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
Valerie Dantoin
Organic Agriculture 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

A beekeeper removes honey from a comb

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:

  1. April 5: Virtual LIVE from 3:30-4:30 p.m.
  2. April 5 through August 7: self-paced
  3. August 8: in-person

Virtual Live sessions will be recorded for those who cannot make the initial class.

Learn More and Enroll
A person wearing gloves tends to an herb garden

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:

  1. Can we feed the world with lower-impact farming?
  2. How does farming affect the climate?
  3. 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.

Learn More and Enroll

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.