Student or Group Info
Name(s): Nicco Mantone, Mila Huntington
Term: Winter 2022-2023
Credits: 8
Title of ILC or Group Project: Learning From the Land: What is Sustainability in Agriculture?
Faculty Sponsor
Faculty sponsor: Dr. Sarah Williams
Title: Head Food & Agriculture Faculty
Organization: The Evergreen State College
Field Supervisor
Field supervisor: Dr. Steven Scheuerell
Title: Food & Agriculture Faculty
Organization: The Evergreen State College
Project Description
This multi-quarter project, entitled Learning from the Land: What is Sustainability in Agriculture?, is designed to support a field study dedicated to the research and experimentation of sustainable agricultural theories and practices. Specific learning objectives are to learn about permaculture, organic, and biodynamic theories of agriculture through research and practice. Students will create and maintain research plots as a side-by-side to their research, allowing hands-on learning as well as giving a chance to practice the theories they research. Students will collaborate with other programs to maintain, harvest, and prepare crops for consumption.
To achieve these goals, students will study and develop skills in sourcing and interpreting texts pertaining to subjects of interest as well as preparing and developing the field site. Students will learn valuable skills in community growth and care through creating opportunities for students to join the process of food cultivation and preparation.
Students will utilize the organic farm and community garden spaces as field sites.
Students will document progress and findings through weekly summaries of learning and practice that will be published alongside photos and other information on a WordPress site.
Texts for the program include: Farming While Black: Soul Fire Farm’s Practical Guide to Liberation on the Land by Leah Penniman, A Biodynamic Farm for Growing Wholesome Food by Hugh Lovel, parts of the Tend, Gather, Grow Curriculum from GRuB, and The One-Straw Revolution by Masanobu Fukuoka
| Learning objective | Activity | Deliverable |
| To gain knowledge of different theories of agriculture through research. | We will source, read, and annotate texts centered around varying types of agriculture (permaculture, organic [Growing a Revolution], and biodynamic [A Biodynamic Farm]) as well as use experience from our current program. | We will submit our weekly summaries, photos, and other information to a WordPress site for review. |
| To learn how to create and maintain research plots following aspects of permaculture, organic, and biodynamic as theories of agriculture in the community garden. Provide a space for seeds to propagate. | We will tidy and prepare plots to be used in spring, plan and map crops, work to revitalize the community garden greenhouse, and propagate seeds. | Sponsor can observe integrity of plots and plans. We will submit crop planning, mapping, and photos depicting our progress to a WordPress site. |
Evaluation of Work
- WordPress ePortfolio
- Final week ten presentation (garden work party!)
- Narrative evaluations from field supervisor and/or subcontractor
- Narrative mid-quarter and final self-evaluations