Mini-Course: Regenerative Agriculture as Restorative Practice

 Students of the 2025 cohort of Common Good’s Regenerative Agriculture Certificate Program created this self-guided mini-course, which aims to help participants understand the “big picture” as it relates to the importance and significance of regenerative agriculture, especially as it relates to people of African descent in the United States. It introduces 2 overarching concepts, interconnectedness (ancestry, spirit, culture, and cooperation) and environmental disruption and restoration. See below for a short description about each unit.

How to take the course:

This mini-course is intended to be participant-driven; it does not require a lecturer or expert. We highly recommend taking this self-guided mini-course in community, especially if you are less familiar with the subject matter, as it includes a lot of information to digest and process. You could do it with an existing group or organization or organize a small group of friends/colleagues to do it together, as the discussion portion of the curriculum will help participants process a lot of complex information that is presented. However, it could also be done individually if that is not feasible and one could answer the discussion questions on their own. It contains 2 units, each of which consists of a list of materials (free and accessible articles, podcasts, videos, etc.) to review, discussion prompts to support a group discussion, and a hands-on activity. 

If you would like to coordinate with Common Good City Farm to request to visit the space for the hands-on portions of the course, please contact the farm. However, please note that this portion of the course could also be done in any green/outdoor and/or gardening space, depending on availability and preference. We consider natural spaces to be sacred and interconnected, and as such, all of the natural world, whether directly human curated or not, is a classroom. 

Curriculum

Download the Mini-Course Guide

Units

  • Interconnectedness - Ancestry, spirit, culture, and cooperation

This unit explores the deep interconnection between people, land, spirit, and all living organisms, grounding students in African philosophies of ubuntu—“I am because you are.” Learners will trace cultural links between African and African American agricultural traditions, highlighting local and national Black farms, farmers, and community initiatives. Emphasis will be placed on cooperative frameworks for regenerative agriculture, food sovereignty, and liberation. Students will also examine the natural interconnectedness of life, from mycorrhizal networks beneath the soil to the relationships humans share with animals, plants, and ecosystems. The unit culminates in an intentional ritual, honoring ancestors and embracing shared kinship with all life.


  • Disruption and Restoration: Colonialism, corporatized farming, climate change, and the potential of generative farming practice 

This unit examines the intertwined histories of land, people, and climate through the lens of colonialism, agriculture, and resistance. Students will study how European settler colonialism disrupted Indigenous stewardship and introduced farming practices that fueled greenhouse gas emissions, ecological imbalance, and harmful narratives that still shape society today. Alongside African and African American agricultural histories, learners will explore the ties between capitalism, corporate farming, and climate change, including cases of environmental racism. By understanding nutrient cycles, climate impacts, and regenerative agricultural solutions, students will gain tools to reimagine sustainable futures. Activities will include practicing how to recognize regenerative processes in the world around them.