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PROGRAMS / COURSE DESCRIPTION
and windbreak trees that are adapted to local climatic
conditions and that meet particular landscaping
objectives. Emphasis will be on choosing the right type
of tree for the location, optimizing site selection, soil
preparation and planting, efficient irrigation practices,
establishing a home orchard, and tree health,
maintenance and pruning.
Learn to remodel a landscape to make it more resource
efficient and attractive. Emphasis will be on redesigning
and planning, water-saving approaches for lawn areas,
low-maintenance alternatives to lawn areas, utilization
of existing landscape elements, salvaging trees and
shrubs by pruning and retraining and introduction of new
landscape elements that are readily established.
AGRICULTURE • NATURAL RESOURCES
AGNR 61C RECYCLING THE NATURAL WAY:
ESSENTIALS OF COMPOSTING
Units: 0.5 - 8-9 hours lecture. (No prerequisite. Grade
Option)
Learn how to make productive use of unwanted yard
waste and other materials through the Master
Composter Program. Topics include: benefits of
composting; the biological process of composting;
materials that can and cannot be composted; types of
composting units and how to establish and manage
them; vermiculture; using the finished product as a soil
conditioner or mulch, using other solid waste such as
straw and concrete in the landscape.
AGNR 61D DESIGNING DRIP IRRIGATION AND
OTHER WATER EFFICIENT SYSTEMS
Units: 0.5 - 8-9 hours lecture. (No prerequisite. Grade
Option)
Students will learn to design, install, and maintain drip
and other water-efficient landscape irrigation systems.
Topics include: system layout; description of available
irrigation hardware components and their use;
converting existing systems to be water-efficient;
adapting an existing system to a redesigned landscape;
effective use of timers and controllers based on
seasonal water requirements; troubleshooting and
repair.
AGNR 61E ORGANIC METHODS FOR
GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING
Units: 0.5 - 8-9 hours lecture. (No prerequisite. Grade
Option)
Introduction to the use of organic methods in cultivating
vegetables, herbs, flowers, shrubs, and trees. Students
will learn to evaluate basic soil characteristics and
assess the need for soil amendments and fertilizers.
Other topics include: assessing plant health; organic
and natural soil amendments and fertilizers; selecting
and sourcing native and climate-adapted plant
materials; plant pests and natural methods for
controlling them.
AGNR 61F OUTDOOR REMODELING:
APPROACHES TO LANDSCAPE CONVERSION
Units: 0.5 -8-9 hours lecture. (No prerequisite. Grade
Option)
AGNR 61G INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT FOR
THE LANDSCAPE AND HOME
Units: 0.5 - 8-9 hours lecture. (No prerequisite. Grade
Option)
Managing pests with an integrated approach using
knowledge of their habits and life histories to determine
the best method or combination of methods for
controlling them. Students will learn about the biology of
pest organisms (weeds, insects, plant diseases,
rodents, and other pests), preventing the establishment
of pests before they become a problem, evaluating the
effects of pests on plant health, and methods of pest
control, with emphasis on low-impact practices and safe
handling of chemical treatment.
AGNR 61H NATURAL LANDSCAPES:
CREATING A CUSTOM HABITAT
Units: 0.5 - 8-9 hours lecture. (No prerequisite. Grade
Option)
Design a landscape that incorporates natural practices
to create a custom habitat. Includes Habitat Gardening:
plants that attract desirable wildlife such as birds and
butterflies; edible landscapes; incorporating vegetables,
herbs, and fruit trees; planting for seasonal color;
allergy-free landscaping; creating outdoor living spaces;
integrating hardscape elements such as decks,
gazebos, and rockscapes into the design.
AGNR 72 GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGY I
Units: 4.0 - 64-72 hours lecture. (No prerequisite)
This course examines the theory behind geographic
information systems (GIS) and global positioning
systems (GPS) and their application to spatial data. An
interdisciplinary approach to GIS and its capability for
analysis and decision-making in diverse industries.
Students will use ArcGIS9 software and GPS software
on real-world projects that find solutions to local
problems using spatial data.
AGNR 73 WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Units: 3.0 - 48-54 hours lecture. (No prerequisite.
Grade Option)
This class is a complete overview of water resource
management in the West Mojave Desert and makes
appropriate linkages to the critical nature of water
management around the world. Local water
102 2012-2013 Victor Valley College Catalog