Terra Nova Sustainable Agriculture

Applied Chemistry & Sustainable Foods

This is a project-based course and is taught at the Terra Nova School which includes a 4-acre farm, woodshop and industrial kitchen. Transportation to Terra Nova is provided from your home school. This is a rigorous course where students will learn Chemistry and sustainability through experimentation and engineering on our farm, and in our kitchen. Course content will include all of the Beaverton School District Chemistry standards including: intermolecular forces, structure and properties of water, kinetic molecular theory, equilibrium and climate change. Technological, historical, political and environmental aspects of chemistry and sustainability will be addressed. Students signing up for this course should self-motivated, prepared to work outside for portions of the course, care for their own garden bed, and learn chemistry concepts in a hands-on learning environment.

• 2.0 Credit (Full year, must take both courses simultaneously)
• 10-12 grade
• Open to all BSD students

Field Biology & Sustainable Practices

This project-based course is taught at the Terra Nova School which includes a 4-acre working farm, woodshop and industrial kitchen. Transportation is provided from your home high school. This is a rigorous course that covers the foundational principles of modern life through the lens of sustainable agriculture at the Terra Nova Farm. Students will work outside and in the classroom learning field biology techniques. Course content will include all the Beaverton School District Biology standards including: the studies of biochemistry, cellular processes, genetics, evolution, sustainability, and ecology. Technological, historical, political and environmental aspects of biology and sustainability will be addressed. Critical thinking, research, communication and analysis are emphasized. Students signing up for this course should self-motivated, prepared to work outside for portions of the course and learn course concepts in a handson learning environment. Please check this video or

• 2.0 Credits (Full year, must take both courses simultaneously)
• 10-12 grade
• Open to all BSD students

Students can participate in additional related activities such as: 

Students work to run the farm alongside a farmer and grow items to sell.

Students have the opportunity to work on the Terra Nova farm during the summer break. Students who work on the farm during the summer break can also enroll in the Harvest Work Experience course (0.5 credits).

Students may earn dual credit for some high school course work in this program.

Click here for the Terra Nova Instagram account. 

Thank you to the following business partners who support our teachers and help to ensure that students are prepared for their post-secondary and career plans after high school.

• Portland Urban Bee Keepers
• Bells Orchard
• Oregon State-Dept of Horticulture
• Ant & Garden Organic Pest Control
• Malinowski Farms