Do you have a project that engages with food and agriculture education for just and sustainable food systems or agricultural practices? This program will support students to pursue individual or small-group projects through on-farm or community garden internships, food-related apprenticeships, field studies, creative research, capstone work, community-based or service-learning projects. Whether on campus, downtown, across the country, or around the world, students should expect to link theory with practice, activism with reflection, and critical thinking with hands-on experience.

Students will develop their projects as in-program Individual Learning Contracts (ILCs), then document their projects using an ePortfolio to create a website (or medium of negotiated choice) that corresponds with learning objectives, activities, and outcomes. Weekly documentation of activities with image and text is expected, along with a log of weekly and cumulative hours; a map of location(s); a bibliography of resources; and use of multi-media options for videos, podcasts, audio files, and photo galleries. Students will work with a field supervisor, subcontractor, or mentor with expertise regarding particular project topics. For students on or near campus, credits may be earned through common work designed to build an intentional learning community, which may include project reports, lecture or film, a reading-based seminar, or events in collaboration with other Food and Ag Project students, the faculty's coordinated study programs, other Food and Agriculture Path of Study programs, or co-curricular activities. All students will be required to create mid-quarter and final self-evaluations as well as a final presentation.

Current examples of opportunities for food and agriculture related experiential learning with the sponsoring faculty include the following.  

• NW Chocolate Festival, 3-4 October. Student discount codes will be provided by faculty to students with approved in-program ILCs. See details here: https://www.nwchocolate.com/schedule/
• Culinary Breeding Network's Sagra del Radicchio, 24 October. Student discount codes will be provided by faculty to students with approved in-program ILCs. See details here: https://www.culinarybreedingnetwork.com/events
• Campus shellfish garden: oyster and geoduck cultivation
• WA Tilth Conference, 16-18 November. Student discount codes will be provided by faculty to students with approved in-program ILCs. See details here: https://tilthalliance.org/our-work/wa-farming-agriculture/tilth-confere… 
• SW WA Food Hub, a local cooperative of 30+ farms (including Evergreen’s farm) with a multi-farm CSA. See details here: https://swwafoodhub.com/
• Tenino Ag Innovation Hub: Craft Butchery and Meat Processing Facility. See details here: https://www.psagrarian.com/meat-processing-facility-in-tenino-moves-for… 
• Organic Seed Alliance. See details here: https://seedalliance.org/events/
• Agroforestry Northwest. See details here: https://agroforestrynw.com/
• Thurston Conservation District. See details here: https://thurstoncd.com/education/upcoming-events/unitedinconservation/
• Community Farm Land Trust. See details here: https://www.communityfarmlandtrust.org/

The first step for interested students is to draft an in-program ILC demonstrating the ability to articulate and take responsibility for one's education in relation to a project (with corresponding activities and documentation) of student interest, including (or not) any of the above opportunities. Note: Students choosing to participate in experiential learning activities who are not in programs that include related required fees must coordinate individually with faculty, Financial Aid, and host organizations regarding expenses. This program is ideal for self-motivated students who have completed a food studies or agriculture-related program (or the equivalent) and have a passion for creative research that integrates making, doing, documenting, and reflection as experiential learning. For examples of Capstone Projects in Food and Ag, please see this link: https://sites.evergreen.edu/capfoodag/. 

Anticipated Credit Equivalencies

Credits will be awarded in the area(s) of each student's work.