Food Production for Urban Landscapes (HORT90038)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Burnley)
About this subject
Contact information
Semester 1
Dr Chris Williams
Overview
| Availability | Semester 1 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
In this subject you will learn about the history of urban agriculture in countries around the world and explore the various roles of urban agriculture in modern-day cities. Given the nature of the subject, a wide diversity of topics will be covered including but not limited to: plant growth requirements, agricultural inputs (such as water and nutrients), soil contamination, pests and diseases, urban-specific production methods, design and management of community gardens and edible landscapes, mainstream and alternative crops (fruit and vegetables), agro-ecology principles and practices ; and the economic value of residential food gardens. You will be required to implement and maintain an allocated crop plot in the Burnley Field Station throughout semester. Field visits will also form part of this subject.
Intended learning outcomes
On the completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- Ability to identify a range of different urban agriculture production methods and their various risks and benefits in particular settings, drawing on examples from Australia and overseas.
- You should also be able to discuss the social, economic and environmental role of urban agriculture and its potential contribution to sustainable cities of the future.
- Understand how to grow common and alternative food crops in an open field allotment setting, including experience in working from a plan, plant nutrition, drip irrigation for food crops etc.
- A broad understanding of the historical drivers of urban agriculture and the current trends in countries around the world.
- A broad understanding of the role of extension and facilitation principles and practices in communicating and promoting technical and social aspects of urban agriculture in a variety of settings eg. Schools, community gardens etc.
Generic skills
- Sourcing, interpreting and applying information from written and electronic sources to individual tasks;
- Use scientific and technical literature to answer specific questions;
- Time management and the meeting of deadlines;
- Report on an issue using rigorous and objective analysis;
- Retrieval, from a range of paper-based and electronic sources, of information required to develop understanding of a topic, and the use of this information, with appropriate recognition, in report writing.
Last updated: 4 April 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
This course requires all students to actively and safely participate in field excursions and laboratory activities. Students who feel their disability may impact upon their participation are encouraged to discuss this matter with the Subject Coordinator and Student Equity and Disability Support.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 4 April 2025
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Technical report due end of week 7
| Week 7 | 30% |
Oral test
| Week 11 | 10% |
Report/essay due end of week 12
| Week 12 | 60% |
Last updated: 4 April 2025
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Coordinator Chris Williams Mode of delivery On Campus (Burnley) Contact hours Total of 48 hours, 24 hours of lectures (11 x 2 hours of lectures per week for 11 weeks), 22 hours of practical (11 x 2 hours per week for 11 weeks), and 4 hours of field trips in between week 6 to 8 of the semester Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 3 March 2025 to 1 June 2025 Last self-enrol date 14 March 2025 Census date 31 March 2025 Last date to withdraw without fail 9 May 2025 Assessment period ends 27 June 2025 Semester 1 contact information
Dr Chris Williams
Time commitment details
170 hours. This subject runs in Semester One at the Burnley Campus in Richmond. It comprises lectures, a practical crop plot program in the Burnley Field Station (including several propagation sessions in the nursery) and field visits.
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Last updated: 4 April 2025
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Recommended texts and other resources
There is no single text for this subject, although it is highly recommended that students familiarise themselves with the topics to be covered. The following text provides a useful introduction and is available in its entirety free on-line (http://www.ruaf.org/node/961): René van Veenhuizen (2006). Cities Farming for the Future - Urban Agriculture for Green and Productive Cities. Published by RUAF Foundation, IDRC and IIRR. A reading list will also be provided on LMS.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Master of Urban Horticulture Course Graduate Diploma in Urban Horticulture Informal specialisation Landscape Management - Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
Last updated: 4 April 2025