April 17, 1998 Contact: John Fisher, (408) 459-3248; Martha Brown, (408) 459-3376; Jim Burns, (408) 459-2495

UC SANTA CRUZ FARM DOCENT TRAINING BEGINS MAY 14

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SANTA CRUZ, CA--If you're interested in alternative agriculture and enjoy working with people, now is the time to consider volunteering as a docent at the 25-acre organic Farm at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Applications are available now for the six-week docent training program, which begins May 14.

During the training, docents will learn about organic farming and gardening methods, issues in sustainable agriculture, and the basic principles of leading interpretive tours, including tours for children. After the training, docents will participate in activities that include tours and public education programs, community events, plantings, and harvests. In addition to the six-week training, docents are encouraged to attend enrichment classes on a range of topics, including beekeeping, pruning, children's gardening, permaculture, and culinary and medicinal herb culture.

The initial training consists of six four-hour sessions on Thursdays from 1 to 5 p.m., May 14 through June 18. Participants will learn how to lead tours for the Farm & Garden's many visitors--from children to seniors and from novices to international scholars. Many visitors are Spanish speakers, so bilingual volunteers are needed, too. A $30 fee covers the cost of materials, a docent manual, and a Farm & Garden organic cotton T-shirt.

After completing the training, docents must volunteer at least six hours per month and attend monthly educational meetings.

Class size is limited, so advance registration is recommended. Applications and other materials are available from John Fisher at the Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, UCSC, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, by calling (408) 459-3248, or by sending e-mail to johnfish@cats.ucsc.edu.

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