18. Sustainable Agriculture Education Association: Cultivating a Network of Campus Gardens

Project Title

Cultivating a Network of Campus Gardens

Sustainable Agriculture Education Association

Organization Information

Organization Name

Sustainable Agriculture Education Association

Mission and Vision of Organization

The Sustainable Agriculture Education Association (SAEA) promotes and supports the development, application, research, and exchange of best teaching and learning practices in sustainable agriculture education and curricula through communication, training, development, and collaborative activities for teachers and learners. The Association is organized exclusively for education purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The goals of the Association are as follows: Promote and advocate the establishment of sustainable agriculture education programs. Promote the collaborative development and exchange of curricula, best educational and experiential learning practices, and research related to the teaching and learning of sustainable agriculture. Provide public forums for addressing issues in sustainable agriculture education teaching and learning. Serve as a vibrant network for individuals and organizations involved in sustainable agriculture education. Engage in activities to aid the professional development of sustainable agriculture educators and students. Serve as an advocate for sustainable agriculture in other contexts and in collaboration with other organizations relevant to sustainable agriculture education. Obtain public and private funds to collaboratively develop and exchange sustainable agriculture education and curricula at all educational levels and with the general public. Attract talented, bright individuals to teach and work in the field of sustainable agriculture. Contribute to the growth of sustainable agriculture in the U.S. and abroad (within grassroots and educational institutions, farms, businesses, etc.).

Guiding Principles + Values

Contact Information

Preferred Method of Contact

  • Best method(s) to contact: Email
  • Best day(s) to contact: Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays
  • Best time(s) to contact: Afternoon

Preferred Platform(s) for Remote Collaboration

  • Zoom

Project Description

Context: What challenge or issue does the project aim to address?

Campus gardens are growing in popularity across universities and college campuses in North America. These are diverse spaces in shape, size, purpose, and outputs. They are often used as educational spaces, cultural hubs, and arts-based platforms. They yield fruits, veggies, herbs, flowers, connection, and community. We have many campus gardens at UBC, such as the Orchard Garden, Roots on the Roof, the Agronomy Garden, and the Geo Garden. Emerging from conversations at the recent SAEA conference at Ohio State University, there is interest in SAEA helping cultivate a network of campus gardens to help connect, support, and amplify the incredible outcomes emerging from these spaces.

Main Project Activities and Deliverables

  • Conduct a brief literature review on the history, impacts and outputs of gardens on university and college campuses in North America.
  • Create an initial map of campus gardens in North America
  • Reach out to key members of SAEA that are involved in campus gardens to help shape the vision and scope of a campus garden network

Student Assets and Skills (preferred or required)

  • Curiosity and excitement to learn more about the role, value and impact of campus gardens
  • Interest in designing and creating interactive, open-source maps
  • Experience with GIS mapping software
  • Fluency in Spanish

Are there any mandatory attendance dates (e.g. special event)?

No

Will the project take place online, in person, or a combination?

  • Online

Is a criminal record search (CRS) required?

  • No

How much self-direction is expected from the students?

  • Deciding on the project deliverable(s) - Equal leadership between students and community partner
  • Developing the activity plan and timeline - Equal leadership between students and community partner
  • Scheduling and initiating the communication plan (e.g. weekly Zoom check-in, biweekly email update, etc.) - Equal leadership between students and community partner
  • Implementing the activity plan - Equal leadership between students and community partner
  • Finalizing the deliverable(s) Led by students

Required Reading

Project/Partner Orientation Materials

Students should review these materials prior to the first partner meeting:

source: https://wiki.ubc.ca/Course:Course:LFS350/Projects/F2022/SAEA