Fields of Learning: The Student Farm Movement in North America

The next generation of farmers will come from colleges and universities across the United States and Canada, where students, faculty, and staff have established on-campus farms as outdoor laboratories for agricultural and cultural education. These farms foster hands-on food-system literacy and provide a context in which disciplinary boundaries are bridged, intellectual and manual skills are cultivated together, and abstract ideas about sustainability are put to the test.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 376 pages
Publication date: 28 May 2022
Publisher: The University Press of Kentucky

The Student Farm Movement in North America is a transformative initiative that brings together students, faculty, and staff from colleges and universities across the United States and Canada. Through the establishment of on-campus farms, these institutions serve as outdoor laboratories for agricultural and cultural education. These farms range in size from one-acre gardens to five-hundred-acre crop and livestock operations, providing hands-on learning opportunities in food-system literacy.

In a world where the shortcomings of input-intensive conventional agriculture have become increasingly apparent, student farms offer a unique context for bridging disciplinary boundaries, cultivating intellectual and manual skills, and testing abstract ideas about sustainability.

Editors Laura Sayre and Sean Clark have compiled a comprehensive volume of essays written by pioneering educators who have played a significant role in founding and managing fifteen of the most influential student farms in North America. Arranged chronologically, Fields of Learning showcases the evolution of the student farm movement from its nineteenth-century origins to its flourishing present, spanning institutions such as the University of California-Davis, Yale University, Hampshire College, Central Carolina Community College, and the University of Maine.

The student farm movement has gained momentum over the years, driven by a growing recognition of the importance of sustainable agriculture and the need for food-system literacy. These farms provide a platform for students to learn about organic farming practices, renewable energy systems, soil health, and biodiversity conservation. They also offer opportunities for community engagement, where students work alongside local farmers, community members, and nonprofit organizations to address food insecurity, promote sustainable agriculture, and build resilient food systems.

In conclusion, the Student Farm Movement in North America is a transformative force in agricultural and cultural education. By fostering hands-on learning opportunities, bridging disciplinary boundaries, and promoting sustainability, these farms are shaping the next generation of farmers and contributing to a more resilient and sustainable food system. As the movement continues to grow and evolve, it will play an increasingly important role in addressing the challenges and opportunities facing our food system in the years to come.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780813187181