where we are and what we're doing

Having written about broader food and agriculture issues for the past several weeks, I’d like to explain a bit more about the UCSC farm and garden and the apprenticeship in agroecology. Hopefully, this post will provide you all with some context and highlight the ways in which some members of the program will be applying the information and skills they acquire.

The original garden was founded in 1967, at the behest of faculty and students, by an accomplished and eccentric Englishman named Alan Chadwick (virtually every account I’ve either read or heard of him features the word “mercurial”). Chadwick imported a style of gardening, known as “French bio-intensive”, which emphasizes soil care, organic inputs, and dense plant spacings to obtain high yields in minimal space. As the apprenticeship grew, the university provided more land to the program. Today the farm occupies about 25 acres and features three sites of distinct scale and topography. The managers of each site utilize the cultivation techniques and farm equipment which best suit their particular location. For example, tractors are used to cultivate the 10 acres of the main field, whereas only hand tools are utilized in the two large garden sites. Apprentices rotate between sites and thus gain a familiarity with diverse growing practices.

The purpose of the program is to build a solid skill base in growing sustainable food amongst a diverse group of farmers, educators, health workers, community organizers, etc. Approximately 1 ½ days per week are dedicated to classroom learning on topics ranging from botany to direct marketing to social justice issues. The remainder of the week, we learn by watching, doing, and asking questions in the fields. I find the emphasis on experiential learning increases retention of information and helps apprentices grasp the relevance and applicability of the classroom components. I personally believe our education system is too skewed towards a relatively abstract classroom learning which often fails to engage and challenge students. Much of my interest in the apprenticeship stems from a desire to familiarize myself with a more hands on and potentially transformative approach to education.

It is inspiring to talk with my fellow apprentices about their plans once they complete the program. Mwale from Zambia will return to his home country and continue to work as a government extension agent encouraging small farmers to adopt more sustainable techniques. Herb, the former UCLA Medical Center surgeon, will delve into his “retirement” helping establish school gardens in Los Angeles. Josh, a fifth generation farmer from Arkansas, will continue to spearhead changes on his family farm and spread awareness of sustainability issues in his home state. In diverse ways, apprentices are poised to spark positive change in their communities.

Thanks to all who have taken the time to read these posts. I’m enjoying the process of wrestling the thoughts onto the page (or the screen, I suppose), and I hope you’re finding something interesting or informative from week to week. Feel free to let me know if you have thoughts about the content and format of the page, or whether there are particular topics you’d like to read about with regards to sustainable food systems. One of these days, I will learn how to post pictures. Until that day, I salute you for plowing through this decidedly bland motif!

Eat well and be well.