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Fostering Sustainability and Innovation in Agriculture
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university sustainable agriculture

SoCal University’s Aeroponic Garden Challenges Food System Status Quo

June 28, 2016 |

A prominent university in Southern California is utilizing aeroponics to challenge the food systems status quo on campus. The University of Southern California (USC) Teaching Garden was established this spring to supply fresh produce to the university’s on-campus restaurants, dining halls, catering … Read More

Indiana School Farm Teaches Urban Farming, Entrepreneurship

December 15, 2015 |
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A student at Thea Bowman Leadership Academy handles chickens inside their coop at the school’s farm. (Photo courtesy Lynda Bodie/Thea Bowman Leadership Academy)

Gary, Indiana, known for being the birthplace of Michael Jackson and home to massive steel plants, now has a high school with an urban farm program.

Last year, students at Thea Bowman Leadership Academy in Gary started the urban farm. It’s founded and operated under the principles of a business plan written as part of an entrepreneurship and personal finance class curriculum. Read More

Mayo Clinic, Western Technical College Embark on Sustainable Ag Partnership

December 14, 2015 |
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Western Technical College in La Crosse, Wisconsin now has a new Horticulture Education Center. The center is the result of a collaboration with Hillview Urban Agriculture Center. (Photo courtesy Pam Hartwell/Hillview Urban Agriculture Center).

La Crosse, Wisconsin is taking a triple bottom line approach to sustainable agriculture education.

A partnership formed by three local organizations, Hillview Urban Agriculture Center, Western Technical College, and Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Healthcare — dubbed the Get Growing Partnership — marked a culmination of sorts in October when a dedication took place for a new greenhouse and Horticulture Education Center at Western Technical College. Read More

Q&A: Dr. Peggy A. Mauk of UC Riverside Discusses Efforts to Strengthen Local Food System

April 28, 2014 |
Dr. Peggy A. Mauk. Director of Agricultural Operations and Subtropical Horticulture Specialist, UC Riverside Photo courtesy of Dr, Mauk

Dr. Peggy A. Mauk. Director of Agricultural Operations and Subtropical Horticulture Specialist, UC Riverside
Photo courtesy of Dr, Mauk

Mention the southern Californian City of Riverside and people often think of oranges. This is hardly surprising, since it’s the birthplace of the state’s citrus industry and home to an internationally respected citrus research center run by the University of California, Riverside.

An effort is now underway, though, that could change perceptions about food production in this citrus hub. UC Riverside and city government are collaborating on a new initiative to get farmers and residents to think outside the area’s traditional export-oriented citrus growing model by promoting development of Riverside’s local food system.

Seedstock spoke to Dr. Peggy Mauk, Director of Agricultural Operations at UC Riverside, to learn more about this work. Read More

WSU Extension Offers Home Food Production Program for those Limited by Financial or Physical Hardship

March 28, 2013 |

A new educational program in Cowlitz County, Wash., is taking the fear out of gardening and enabling people who are limited by financial or physical hardship to experience the rewards of having their own garden. In the program’s first year, there were 22 applicants vying for 10 spots; this year, there are 61.

“You really get to know these people after reading the application,” says Gary Fredricks, the director of the WSU Extension office for Cowlitz County. From this year’s 61 applicants, he and the committee of Master Gardeners selected the 10 applicants that are the next cohort of the Home Vegetable Educational Garden (VEG) program. Read More