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Mary Beth Bardin, of Moncure, has the hens' undivided attention as she delivers their lunch at Central Carolina Community College's student farm. The 15-acre farm, at the college's Chatham County Campus, in Pittsboro, is part of the college's sustainable agriculture program. Manure from the hens fertilizes the crop beds and the hens help control weeds by eating their seeds. Bardin has a bachelor's degree in journalism and English from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and works on farm issues at the N.C. Farm Transition Network. She enrolled in the sustainable agriculture program because of her concern about the future of farming and its impact on public health. Central Carolina is known as 'Green Central' because of its extensive sustainability programs, including fuels, agriculture and building/renewable energy. Ecotourism will start soon and a 'natural chef' culinary arts program is planned. In 2002, it became the first community college in the nation to offer an Associate of Applied Science in Sustainable Agriculture. For more information on Central Carolina Community College's sustainable agriculture programs, contact Robin Kohanowich at (919) 542-6495, ext. 229, or rkohanowich@cccc.edu, or visit the college's web site, www.cccc.edu.

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Farmer Shiloh Avery works among the cabbages at Tumbling Shoals Farm. Avery and her husband, Jason Roerhig, established the transitional organic farm near Miller's Creek, N.C., and are now in their second year of harvests. The couple are among the young people who have been attracted to farming through sustainable agriculture, which uses environmentally friendly farming methods. Avery, who did not grow up in a farming family, prepared for her career by completing most of the sustainable agriculture classes offered by Central Carolina Community College. The college is known as 'Green Central' because of its extensive sustainability programs, including fuels, agriculture, and building/renewable energy. Ecotourism will start soon and a 'natural chef' culinary arts program is planned. In 2002, it became the first community college in the nation to offer an Associate of Applied Science in Sustainable Agriculture. For more information on Central Carolina Community College's sustainable agriculture programs, contact Robin Kohanowich at (919) 542-6495, ext. 229, or rkohanowich@cccc.edu, or visit the college's web site, www.cccc.edu.

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Hilary Heckler, of Pittsboro, manages the five-acre student farm for Central Carolina Community College's sustainable agriculture program at the college's Chatham County Campus, in Pittsboro. In addition to growing vegetables, the farm also has 15 laying hens, including the Barred Rock she is holding. Manure from the hens helps fertilize the growing beds and the hens help control weeds by eating their seeds. The college is known as 'Green Central' because of its extensive sustainability programs, including fuels, agriculture, and building/renewable energy. Ecotourism will start soon and a 'natural chef' culinary arts program is planned. In 2002, it became the first community college in the nation to offer an Associate of Applied Science in Sustainable Agriculture. For more information on Central Carolina Community College's sustainable agriculture programs, contact Robin Kohanowich at (919) 542-6495, ext. 229, or rkohanowich@cccc.edu, or visit the college's web site, www.cccc.edu.

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Hilary Heckler (left), of Pittsboro, and Mary Beth Bardin, of Moncure, enjoy the flock of hens at Central Carolina Community College's sustainable agriculture program at the college's Chatham County Campus, in Pittsboro. Manure from the hens helps fertilize the growing beds and the hens help control weeds by eating their seeds. Heckler is manager of the five-acre student farm that provides students hands-on training in environmentally friendly farming. Bardin has a bachelor's degree in journalism and English from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and works on farm issues at the N.C. Farm Transition Network. She enrolled in Central Carolina's sustainable agriculture program because of her concern about the future of farming and its impact on public health. The college is known as 'Green Central' because of its extensive sustainability programs, including fuels, agriculture, and building/renewable energy. Ecotourism will start soon and a 'natural chef' culinary arts program is planned. In 2002, it became the first community college in the nation to offer an Associate of Applied Science in Sustainable Agriculture. For more information on Central Carolina Community College's sustainable agriculture programs, contact Robin Kohanowich at (919) 542-6495, ext. 229, or rkohanowich@cccc.edu, or visit the college's web site, www.cccc.edu.

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Mary Beth Bardin, of Moncure, plucks out weeds from the arugula crop growing in the plastic-walled hoop house at Central Carolina Community College's Chatham County Campus, in Pittsboro. The hoop house, which protects plants from the cold weather, is part of the 15-acre student farm in the college's sustainable agriculture program. Bardin has a bachelor's degree in journalism and English from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and works on farm issues at the N.C. Farm Transition Network. She enrolled in the sustainable agriculture program because of her concern about the future of farming and its impact on public health. Central Carolina is known as 'Green Central' because of its extensive sustainability programs, including fuels, agriculture, and building/renewable energy. Ecotourism will start soon and a 'natural chef' culinary arts program is planned. In 2002, it became the first community college in the nation to offer an Associate of Applied Science in Sustainable Agriculture. For more information on Central Carolina Community College's sustainable agriculture programs, contact Robin Kohanowich at (919) 542-6495, ext. 229, or rkohanowich@cccc.edu, or visit the college's web site, www.cccc.edu.

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Lettuce plants and onion bulbs are planted in the ground at Central Carolina Community College's 15-acre student farm, part of the college's sustainable agriculture program at its Chatham County Campus, in Pittsboro. Hand-planting the crops are (clockwise from left) students Michael Slaton, of Snow Camp, and Mary Beth Bardin, of Moncure, and farm manager Hilary Heckler, of Pittsboro. Central Carolina is known as 'Green Central' because of its extensive sustainability programs, including fuels, agriculture, and building/renewable energy. Ecotourism will start soon and a 'natural chef' culinary arts program is planned. In 2002, it became the first community college in the nation to offer an Associate of Applied Science in Sustainable Agriculture. For more information on Central Carolina Community College's sustainable agriculture programs, contact Robin Kohanowich at (919) 542-6495, ext. 229, or rkohanowich@cccc.edu, or visit the college's web site, www.cccc.edu.