Schools

Food, Farm and Field: Chatham Registering Students for Sustainability Course at Richland Campus

The two-week summer program will include field activities on the Eden Hall farm.

Chatham University is now registering students for its second annual summer food and sustainability course to be held at the Eden Hall Campus in Richland Township from July 28 through August 10.

During the two-week summer program, titled Food, Farm, and Field, students will gain a deeper understanding of issues relating to sustainability and the environment while living at the University’s Eden Hall Campus, a statement from the university said.

Students live on campus throughout the course, exploring the critical relationships among food, farm, and environment. The program blends classroom learning, group discussions, community field trips, and lab and field activities on the farm and in the kitchen.

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One day of the course may start with a breakfast discussion about the importance of agro-ecology as it relates to the farm and its surroundings. From there, students spend the rest of the morning learning sustainable growing methods while working in the Eden Hall Campus’ organic garden.

After a lunch break, students attend lectures and discuss important literature about sustainable farming, food sheds, and more.

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Other days may take students off the farm as they visit a variety of local businesses where they will learn first-hand about locally sourced cheeses, foraged foods, the importance of organizing and supporting farm markets, and much more.

Students will also have the opportunity to prepare locally sourced dishes and compare them to meals sourced from Wal-Mart.

Each day will include time for recreational activities such as swimming, hiking, yoga, and time for reflection through writing, video and photography.

If you're curious to learn more about the program, last summer’s Food, Farm, and Field class documented the experience on a blog that can be viewed at http://foodfarmfield.tumblr.com/.

“Because we take an interdisciplinary approach in this program, we can provide a whole range of perspectives on the way our food moves through our environment and our communities,” says Alice Julier, director of the Master of Arts in Food Studies program at Chatham.

“The program at Chatham involves hands-on experiential training at our Eden Hall site, but also engagement with practitioners throughout Pittsburgh. This connection between the agricultural and environmental landscape and the communities where food is prepared and consumed is our innovative approach to this course.”

Instructors will include Chatham University’s renowned faculty in sustainability, food studies, film and digital media, agro-ecology, and creative writing.

Local farmers, chefs, and food suppliers will also provide their perspectives as guest lecturers.

Current undergraduate or graduate students in any field of study who are enrolled in accredited institutions or those who have completed an undergraduate degree at an accredited institution are encouraged to apply, as well as are those interested in agritourism or working in the food service industry.

Students will receive three academic credits at the upper division undergraduate or graduate level. The cost is $3,000 and includes all course materials, academic credits, lodging, meals, and activities.

For more information, visit www.chatham.edu/sse/ or call 412-365-1498 to speak with someone about the program.

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