STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (From Academic Course Guide Manual /NCTC Catalog) At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to: 

1. 

Demonstrate the ability to plan, design, and plant a vegetable garden or small fruit orchard. 

2. 

Properly cultivate, fertilize, water, and harvest the garden or orchard. 

3. 

Discuss various types of gardens and their applications in both commercial and residential settings. 

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION 

Name of Instructor: 

Stephen Nystrand

Campus/Office Location: 

By appointment 

Telephone Number: 

(608) 772-2392

E-mail Address: 

snystrand@nctc.edu 

INSTRUCTOR HOURS: By appointment; may be subject to change

Monday 

Tuesday 

Wednesday 5:00-6:00pm

Thursday 5:00-6:00pm

Friday 

I do not have an office on campus, so please contact me to schedule a time and location to meet via WebEx (online meeting platform) or telephone.  Possible times are not limited to the above hours. You are welcome to contact me through Canvas messages or by phone call/text.  

Last Day to Withdraw 

February 22, 2019 

Required or Recommended Course Materials 

This class has no textbook. Reading and viewing assignments will be provided on Canvas. 

Course Type 

• ��  Academic General Education Course (from ACGM but not in NCTC Core) 

• ��  Academic NCTC Core Curriculum Course
• x WECM Course 

Grading Policy and Procedures 

Assignment Point Values 

  100 points class and lab participation

  150 points discussion posts 

(15 @ 10 points)

  300 points exams 

(3@100 points)

350 points lab assignment

=50 points planning worksheet

200 points weekly posts

100 points final report 

  100 points quizzes

(10 @ 10 points each)
  

=1000 points total

  Grading Scale:                                   Grade Breakdown:
  895-1000+ points = A                             89.5-100% = A

  795-895 points = B                             79.5-89.49%=B

  695-795 points = C                            69.5-79.49%=C

  595-695 points = D                            59.5-69.49%=D

  <59.5 points = F                                    Less than 59.5% = F 

Course Evaluation Descriptions
Participation
Participation is an important component of your learning experience. Because this year the class is online, it is vital that students contribute to online discussions and conduct independent lab work.  Students will learn from each other and from hands-on activities.  To benefit from discussions and labs, students must complete all assignments and readings that provide essential information. 

As an online class, the 100 possible participation points are calculated based on contribution to online discussions, and completion and documentation of lab assignments.  Discussions on Canvas will take place weekly.  Lab work will be ongoing and must be documented on the discussion forum. (See below for assignment details.)  Participation does not require perfect accuracy! Students can ask questions and explore concepts without fear of making a mistake. But to earn participation points, students must use class materials and experiences to inform their contributions.  Late posts to the discussion will receive some or all points for the assignment, but not for participation.  

Rubric for participation points:

Field Trips
We will not take field trips this semester because of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. Depending on NCTC policies, students MAY be able to schedule in-person, socially distanced, outdoor meetings in groups of <3 to meet with the instructor regarding lab activities (see below).  This may be subject to change, so students should follow course communications and College policies to stay safe and in compliance.

Weekly Discussions

Every week, students will have a discussion assigned on Canvas, in addition to weekly posts about their lab projects.  For this post, students may ask relevant questions, or respond to specific prompts.  Posts are worth 10 points, for a total of 150 points over 15 weeks.  For full points, students must make a relevant post that addresses the topic and respond to the post of at least one classmate (or the instructor).  Late posts may be worth partial credit, but they will lose participation points.  

Exams
The lecture exams will include all notes, discussions, labs, videos, and reading assignments. Lecture tests are moderately cumulative: The second and third exams will focus on the later semester but will inevitably draw on concepts introduced in the first half. Exam questions may be multiple choice, true/false, fill-in-the-blank, short answer, and/or essay.  

Exams will be available as Word documents and as PDFs that can be downloaded, completed, and uploaded to a Canvas dropbox, available for 48 hours.  Because they are online, all exams are open-book: Students are encouraged to use all resources available to complete exams. 

If an exam is missed, a zero will be recorded in the grade book unless the exam is taken before the next class period. 

Lab project

In the first three weeks of the semester, students will develop a plan with the instructor for a personal, independent field project that they will work on and report about for the remainder of the class term.  A good project will address all three course objectives so that students can use course concepts hands-on, make weekly progress reports, and discuss their work with the class.  It must involve active work with edible plants (or fungi).  The instructor will approve projects before students proceed. 

Example projects: Other possible projects may be approved case-by-case. 

• Growing food crops on campus: There is student garden space available at the Corinth and possibly the Gainesville campuses. 
• Growing crops at home: Options include outdoor and indoor growing.  Students with existing gardens and/or tree crops may document maintenance and care. 
• Foraging: Wild food plants have a complex relationship with agriculture.  A few (not all) students may choose to investigate wild edible plants (all consumption is at students’ own risk).  
• Workplace/internships: Students who work with food crops professionally may document their experiences, with workplace knowledge and approval.  

The lab project has three graded parts: 

• Planning (worksheet): All students will submit a description of their project in Week 3.
• Weekly discussion posts: Every week, students will make a post about their project on the class discussion board and respond to others’ posts. 
• Final report: Students will write a summary of their project, describing their process, successes, failures, and lessons learned, due Week 15 (the week before the final exam).  

For more details about the lab project, see the Canvas module and assignment description, with rubrics and deadlines.  

Quizzes

Throughout the course of this semester, students will be given 10 weekly quizzes, for a total of 100 points. Quizzes will cover material from “Crops of the Week,” readings, and other slides. The information covered in these quizzes is cumulative—but designed to reinforce learning, not trick students.  Quizzes will be offered online on Canvas and will be multiple-choice and/or multiple-answer.  Each quiz will be available from the posting date until the next exam, and MAY be completed any time in that time period for full points.  

Extra Credit Opportunities

There will be chances to earn significant extra credit in this class.  Students should watch the class announcements for opportunities to earn points for garden work at NCTC and possibly elsewhere, and extracurricular lectures and workshops.  Occasionally, lectures or workshops may require a fee; however, other opportunities will be available free of charge. Students will be encouraged to share their experiences on the weekly discussion board.

In addition, students will have the chance to submit a paper about a significant topic related to tood crops, for up to 50 extra points.  Details are available in Canvas in the Significant Industry Topic module.   

Tentative Calendar 

Monday, Jan. 18

• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day observed: College closed

Week 1, Jan. 19-24

• Class Set-up: Introductions, Syllabus, Semester paperwork 
• Topics: Introduction; background of vegetable/fruit crop production in U.S. and Texas
• Discussion 1: Personal introductions
• Discussion 2: What grows well here? 

Week 2, Jan. 25-31

• Topics: Vegetable Garden Planning, Site Selection, Climates and Garden Styles; Guidelines for a Healthy Garden  
• Discussion: Dealing with site issues
• Food Crops: ALLIACEAE (Onion family); APIACEAE (Umbellifer Family or Carrot Family, cool-weather HERBS
• Quiz 1

Feb. 1

 Official Date of Record

Week 3, Feb. 1-7 

• Topics: Getting started: Seed starting; transplanting versus direct-seeding; mulches and covers 
• Discussion: Seed starting troubleshooting 
• Food Crops: BRASSICACEAE (Cabbage and mustard family)
• Assignment: Independent Lab Project Plan due (50 pts)
• Quiz 2

Week 4, Feb. 8-14

• Topics: Getting started: Soils and Fertility, Amendments, Compost, & Cover Crops
• Discussion: Managing your soil
• Food Crops: FABACEAE (Pulse or pea family)
• Quiz 3

Week 5, Feb. 15-21

• Topics: Gardening with the seasons; planting schedules, North TX conditions and challenges, crop origins
• Food Crops: POACEAE (Grass/grain family)
• Quiz 4

Week 6, Feb. 22-28

• Exam I
• Discussion: Exam review and questions

Week 7, March 1-7 

• Topics: Introduction to plant pathology; weed ID and management
• Discussion: Disease and Pest Observation 
• Food Crops: ASTERACEAE (Composite family; AMARANTHACEAE (Goosefoot family); WEEDS
• Quiz 5

Week 8, March 8-14

• Topics: Pest management; IPM; biodiversity in the garden

• Discussion: Permaculture

• Food Crops:  PERENNIAL VEGETABLES (asparagus, artichoke, nopal cactus, etc.)  
• Quiz 6

March 15-21

Spring Break: College closed

Week 9, March 22-28

• Topics: Fruit and nuts, Part 1: Crop selection, adaptations, etc. 

• Discussion: Why is growing fruit so fussy? 
• Lab: Garden plot; “Weed season;” tree and vine observations
• Food crops: ROSACEAE (Rose family) fruits  
• Quiz 7

Week 10, March 29-April 4

• Topics: Fruit and nuts, Part 2: Woody plant care and propagation

• Discussion: Pruning and/or propagation

• Food Crops: Other fruits: GRAPES, fig, persimmon, blueberry, etc. Nuts: PECAN, walnuts, chestnut, almond
• Quiz 8

April 5

Last day to withdraw with a “W”

Week 11, April 5-11

• Exam II

• Discussion: Exam review and questions

Week 12, April 12-18 

• Topics: Nightshades; plant toxicity, wild edibles
• Food Crops: SOLANACEAE (Nightshade family) 
• Quiz 9

Week 13, April 19-25

• Topics: Food Preserving: Canning, freezing, drying, fermentation 
• Food Crops: CUCURBITACEAE (Gourd family)
• Quiz 10

Week 14, April 26- May 2  

• Topics: Propagation, seed saving. Specialty crops
• Food Crops: MALVACEAE (Hibiscus family); CONVULVULACEAE (Morning Glory family); assorted hot-weather crops

Week 15, May 3-9  

• Topics: Growing mushrooms; mushroom species; wild mushrooms, other fungi and food crops
• Food Crops: FUNGI: Cultivated and wild mushrooms, and their relatives
• Assignment: Final Report for Lab Project Due (100 pts)

Week 16, May 10-15 (term ends on Friday 5/15)

• Exam III
• Discussion: Exam review and questions

May 14

Commencement Ceremonies

May 15

Term Ends

Student Handbook 

Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the student handbook and published online. 

Disability Services (Office for Students with Disabilities) 

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides support services for students with disabilities, students enrolled in technical areas of study, and students who are classified as special populations (i.e. single parents).
Support services for students with disabilities might include appropriate and reasonable accommodations, or they may be in the form of personal counseling, academic counseling, career counseling, etc. Furthermore, OSD Counselors work with students to encourage self-advocacy and promote empowerment. The Counselors also provides resource information, disability-related information, and adaptive technology for students who qualify. If you feel you have needs for services that the institution provides, please reach out to either Wayne Smith (940) 498-6207 or Yvonne Sandman (940) 668-4321. Alternative students may stop by Room 170 in Corinth or Room 110 in Gainesville. 

Academic Dishonesty 

Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, academic falsification, intellectual property dishonesty, academic dishonesty facilitation and collusion. Faculty members may document and bring charges against a student who is engaged in or is suspected to be engaged in academic dishonesty. See Student Handbook, “Student Rights & Responsibilities: Student Conduct ([FLB(LOCAL)]”. Consequences for academic dishonesty are detailed in the Student Handbook. 

Syllabi Statements Spring 2021 - COVID-19 Specific

Conversion of Onsite Classes to Online/Remote Format: North Central Texas College students should be aware that in the event of a college closure due to COVID-19, onsite classes will be converted to an online/remote format. Students should plan ahead to ensure they have access to the computer equipment (either PC, MAC, or tablet), webcam, and internet connectivity to continue their classes in an online/remote format. Please read all your official North Central Texas College student emails as the transition from onsite to online/remote might require a reorganization in your personal situation. Students will be granted a 72-hour transition and grace period. Online classes will continue as scheduled without disruption. Wear a mask, stay safe, and contact your Instructor as the situation arises. These policies and procedures were updated on July 30, 2020 and are subject to change as conditions change.

Face Coverings: Per the North Central Texas College guidance on face coverings on campus, in the instructional setting, faculty and students must wear face coverings, such as masks or face shields. Students without coverings, or those who do not comply with the rules relating to face coverings, will not be able to participate in on-campus classroom activities. To request an exception to this requirement, students should contact the NCTC HR Office of Enrollment Management (ccove@nctc.edu). Failure to comply with the face coverings requirement may result in the Instructor directing the student to leave the classroom. Any student asked to leave the classroom may be referred to the student conduct officer. These policies and procedures were updated on July 30, 2020 and are subject to change.

Temporary COVID-19 Attendance Policy for Face-to-Face Meetings: We are facing an unprecedented situation in which all of us must be flexible and make prudent decisions in the best interest of our families, our campus, and our community. In light of this, North Central Texas College is temporarily establishing the requirement that faculty keep records of student attendance for face-to-face course meetings as well as a documented seating chart. In addition, students who are sick or need to quarantine should not attend classes. Students will not be required to provide formal documentation from a health care provider and will not be penalized for COVID-19 related absences when proper notification to campus health officials is made in accordance with the guidelines stated below. 

Faculty will:

• Notify students about important course information and delivery changes through Canvas and campus email.

Students should:

• Provide notification to campus officials (via NCTC Daily Health Check protocol through Canvas) if they have tested positive for COVID-19 or have to quarantine so we can confirm reported absence with instructors, monitor, and assist the campus community.
• Notify instructors in advance of the absence.
• Connect with that class through Webex if the class session is being transmitted in a hybrid fashion.
• Keep up with and/or make up missed classwork or assignments.
• Submit assignments digitally through Canvas or other means as announced by your instructor.
• Work with their instructors to reschedule exams, labs, and other critical academic activities described in the course syllabus.
• Check Canvas and campus email daily to receive important announcements pertaining to the course.

During the spring 2021 semester, faculty with face-to-face meetings will establish assigned seating/work stations to facilitate roll-taking, and, if necessary, contact tracing. Additionally, we ask all members of the College community to be attentive to their health, and safeguard others, by following the CDC’s guideline to “stay home when you are sick.” You should stay home if you have symptoms. More information on what to do if you are sick is available at the CDC’s website. 

Additional NCTC information is available at http://www.nctc.edu/coronavirus/index.html

. 

Name of Chair:

Dr. Lisa Bellows 

Campus/Office Location: 

Gainesville 

Telephone Number: 

(940) 668-7731, ext 4346 

E-mail Address:

lbellows@nctc.edu 

Name of Dean: 

Debbie Huffman 

Campus/Office Location: 

Gainesville – Career & Technical Education Building 

Telephone Number: 

(940) 668-3357 

E-mail Address: 

dhuffman@nctc.edu 

Evaluation of Class and Instructor

I am open to receiving your comments, positive or negative. They help me enrich this course and improve as a teacher. Please feel free to call or text me, or email me at snystrand@nctc.edu.

Attendance and Tardiness Policy 

General NCTC Attendance Policy

Regular and punctual attendance is expected of all students in all classes for which they have registered. All absences are considered to be unauthorized unless the student is absent due to illness or emergencies as determined by the instructor. It is the student responsibility to provide documentation as to the emergency for approval and judgement by the faculty member. Approved college sponsored activities are the only absences for which a student should not be held liable and only when provided by a college official ahead of the absence. Valid reasons for absence, however, do not relieve the student of the responsibility for making up required work. Students will not be allowed to make up an examination missed due to absence unless they have reasons acceptable to the instructor. A student who is compelled to be absent when a test is given should petition the instructor, in advance if possible, for permission to postpone the exam. Student will be dropped from a class by the Registrar upon recommendation of the instructor who feels the student has been justifiably absent or tardy a sufficient number of times to preclude meeting the course’s objectives. Persistent, unjustified absences from classes or laboratories will be considered sufficient cause for College officials to drop a student from the rolls of the College. From Board Policy FC (LOCAL) 

Course-Specific Attendance Policy

As an asynchronous online class, attendance in Food Crops, Spring 2021, will not be calculated according to in-person attendance rules.  However, it is necessary for students to regularly participate in all online activities to maintain attendance: If a student does not participate in online activities for a consecutive three weeks, the student might be dropped from the CANVAS roster (blocked in CANVAS) and might be dropped from the class. 

The instructor will not take attendance online; however, because grades are based largely on weekly discussion posts and participation, students will need to log in regularly to complete their work for full credit, and keep up with readings and assignments to maintain good grades.  

Other Policies andPertinent Information

Emailing the Instructor
After the first week of class, all correspondence with the instructor should be done through the Canvas course mail system rather than through the NCTC email system. 

Missing and Late Assignments
Make-up assignments may be possible on a case-by-case basis for partial credit.  They should be made up before the next class. Contact your instructor for details.

Disruptive Behavior
A student who engages in any behavior or language in the online classroom that intentionally or unintentionally disrupts the learning process may be asked to leave the class and may be reported to the Vice President of Instruction for disciplinary action. 

Grade and Attendance Records
All grades will be posted in Canvas and can be accessed at any time during the semester.

Missing Classes
Students need to log in weekly (multiple times per week) to keep up with class work.  However, each student is allowed to miss two discussions without impacting their grades. After the first two missed discussions, participation points will be subtracted.  

Tobacco Products

Students must not bring tobacco products or any containers that might have tobacco byproducts in them into the classroom, the gardens, or the Gainesville Greenhouse. (See Tobacco Free Campus Information Policy.) Students who do use tobacco products should always wash hands with soap and water before entering the greenhouse (Gainesville) or touching any plants on either campus. 

Students curious about the Horticulture department’s tobacco policy may consult class materials for Solanaceae, the Nightshade family, or notes from Plant Diseases (HALT 1307) regarding viruses, to learn more.    

Study and Preparation Time
This is a 3-hour credit class. In general, students should expect to spend 2-3 hours a week studying for each credit hour of a course. This is true for online as well as in-person classes.   

Other Policies and Pertinent Information, Continued 

Web Browser
Take note that it is best to use Firefox as your web browser when using CANVAS. 

Curving Exams and Final Grades
Exams, assignments, and final grades are NOT curved in this course. 

Lab Attire, Physical Nature of Activities, Weather Factors, and General Safety
In this online class, students must still perform lab activities.  These will involve outdoor work in unpredictable and sometimes unpleasant weather.  Students have some control over when they perform their chosen lab activities; however, they should be prepared to work in the heat, cold, and wet weather if necessary.  Some horticultural tasks must be done in cold weather. 

Remember, there is no such thing as bad weather, only a bad choice of clothing (old Icelandic saying).  Students should also be prepared with drinking water, bug repellent, sunscreen, hats, and safe footwear if required. 

Some outdoor activities require potentially dangerous tools: Saws, pruners, rakes, etc.  It is students’ responsibility to use tools appropriately and safely.  Students should not attempt to use unfamiliar equipment without correct training.  

Eating class materials (plants, fungi) is at students’ own risk.  It is students’ responsibility, when trying unfamiliar foods, to be aware of potential hazards such as misidentification, chemical contamination, and allergies, and make informed decisions.  Students will never be asked, pressured, or required to taste potentially dangerous crops or wild plants.  

Receiving Communication From Your Instructor
Students can receive instructor announcements via texts and/or to their personal email accounts. To activate this setting, go to your Canvas profile, and enter in how you would like to receive communications. 

Tobacco Free Campus Information 

NCTC restricts the use of all tobacco products including cigarettes, cigars, pipes and smokeless tobacco on campus property. NCTC is aware that tobacco use influences underage students which cumulates unsightly tobacco litter and interferes with assuring clean air for all who come to NCTC. NCTC recognizes the health hazards of tobacco use and of exposure to secondhand smoke. Information on a tobacco cessation program is available for students, faculty, staff who wish to stop using tobacco products. We would like to "thank you" for your help in making our campuses Tobacco-Free. For questions or concerns please contact the Office of Vice President of Student Services at (940) 668- 4240. 

Toxoplasmosis 

Toxoplasmosis is caused by a protozoan (one-celled) parasite, Toxoplasma gondii. Dangers to an unborn child from toxoplasmosis include birth defects and fetal death. The disease can be passed to people through contact with cat feces, and exposure is possible through contact with contaminated soil. Pregnant women should wear gloves when gardening or working in soil or sand, as it may have been used by neighborhood cats and contain cat feces. Any foodstuffs from the garden (fruits, vegetables, herbs, etc.) should be washed thoroughly before ingestion. 

Facebook & Email Lists 

I am an inconsistent photographer, and I have been avoiding Facebook since the 2011 political unrest in my home state.  I will not be making any posts.  Students, however, are welcome to take and post photos of class activities.  If you plan to post anything on NCTC’s accounts, read their Social Media policies. 

If you would like to join email lists to be notified about information regarding the Horticulture Certifications, Job Opportunities, or the NCTC Horticulture Club, please send me an email expressing interest.