A capacity class of Marin College students returned to the Indian Valley Farm for the fall session of the school's new organic farm and environmental landscaping program, according to a post yesterday in the San Francisco Examiner's Sustainable Food blog by Jeri Lynn Chandler.

The program is a collaboration between the College of Marin, the Marin Conservation Corps and UC Cooperative Extension's Marin Master Gardeners. It is funded with a $374,254 College of Marin chancellor's grant and matching resources totaling $1,114,210 from more than 26 industry partners, the blog said.

“This is a welcome ray of light in an otherwise gloomy and dark economic climate,” said the College of Marin's Superintendent/President Frances White in an August news release. “These funds couldn’t have arrived at a better time and will ensure that our organic garden educational program continues to thrive.”

The four sustainable farm-related classes being held during the fall semester are Principles and Practices of Organic Farm and Gardening, Integrated Pest Management, Environmental Landscape Design and Introduction to Sustainable Horticulture.