Food for Thought:
A summer program in ecology and sustainable agriculture
Organic garden:
The readings, discussions, and writing in the program are integrated with work in an organic garden on the University's Domain (at the old farm.) The garden serves as a laboratory where students can ground (literally) the ideas learned in other parts of the program. Students also develop an appreciation for the rewards and challenges of food production, including the practical application of land and work ethics. Food from the garden will be shared between the students' kitchen and the Community Action Committee's food bank.
The garden is designed and run by students. In doing
so students learn the science and art of food production including seed-rearing,
planting, tending, and harvesting. In addition, the garden will serve as
a laboratory for studying plants and quantifying the interaction between
agricultural practices and ecological processes such as plant-pollinator
interactions, herbivory, and soil biology.