by Dave Mortensen, Plant Sciences faculty
As we work through visioning and planning for our Sustainable Food Systems curriculum and Student Farm at Penn State we agreed that when the opportunity arose to visit and learn more about functioning programs at other places we’d seize that opportunity. One such opportunity arose for me during a recent visit to the University of New Hampshire. Leslie Pillen told me about a person she had met at a recent food systems conference, so during my visit I spent a morning learning about the exciting new Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems (SAFS) program at UNH. The farm includes two recently constructed high tunnels (one heated and one not) and an adjacent 3 acre parcel that now produces vegetables for the UNH dining services.
UNH high tunnel
It was a chilly November morning (think 20 degrees) when my host Rich Smith, a former post-doc at PSU and now on the faculty in the SAFS program, and I stopped for a takeout coffee before meeting Andrew Ogden to discuss the SAFS program at UNH. We met in a lightly heated high tunnel in order to learn first-hand where and how the students were growing the produce that is part of the SAFS program. Andrew is an integral member of the SAFS program and the go-to guy for all things farming-related in the program. He is an energetic young guy who was brought on during a recent cluster hire to jumpstart their SAFS program. As I tell him about our plans for our Sustainable Food Systems program and Student Farm, he lights up at the news of our important work (see photo of Andrew).
Andrew Ogden, Lecturer in Horticulture with the UNH Student Farm
Andrew proceeds to tell me that over the last several years, UNH has committed to building the SAFS program, a student-centered program that includes a course curriculum with a number of courses that provide hands-on small farm management and produce vegetables that are served in UNH’s Dining Services. Andrew spoke excitedly about his new year-long Food Production Field Experience course that gives students hands-on experience in growing food and managing a small farm business. Through part of the Farm to You NH project, students grow fresh vegetables and fruits for UNH dining services. In return, UNH dining services helps underwrite the cost of infrastructure and labor associated with the student farm.
UNH students on the Student Farm
I was fascinated to meet Rich and Andrew, and in the process learn about their thriving Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems program. Some key features of getting their program off the ground include: phasing the program in (they are in Phase One but the program is growing), a dedicated farm manager/lecturer (Andrew Ogden), institutional commitment (from the Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Dining Services and Undergraduate Ed), a supportive cast of faculty and, of course, a motivated group of students passionate about sustainable agriculture.
UNH high tunnel and low tunnels for season extension