Georgia Organics, a nonprofit organization that promotes locally grown food and organic farms, has created a new curriculum to help educate high school agricultural students and adults about organic farming and gardening. "Fundamentals of Organic Farming and Gardening: An Instructor's Guide" aims to fill the gap between demand and supply of organic food by encouraging more education.

In a recent Atlanta Journal-Constitution article, Alice Rolls, executive director of Georgia Organics said, "There has been limited resource materials in Georgia and nationwide for teachers interested in sustainable agricultural instruction. People are leaving farming. Farming is hard. But kids needs to know about the opportunities that exist."

The curriculum, offered on CD, explores the basis of organics including soils, soil biology, soil management. It also addresses plant biology, crop management, composting, marketing and certification through videos, lab exercises, student activities and PowerPoint presentations that help facilitate student interaction.

This curriculum is the first of its kind in the state and has been included in the 2006 agricultural curriculum materials distributed to all high school agricultural educators. It has also been distributed to Extension agents, Master Gardener instructors, and others.

The CD and an accompanying poster are available for $10 by calling Georgia Organics at 678-702-0400 or are also available free to download.