HS Freshman interested in sustainability, organic farming and sustainable agriculture

[Anonymous]

U of Oregon

[Anonymous]

UC Davis as no peer in the sustainable agriculture, soil science, plant sciences and environmental fields.

[Anonymous]

Please take a look at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It's one of the largest land grant institutions and has a specific sustained mission in agriculture.

Student-run Sustainable Farm:
https://www.thefarm.illinois.edu/

Local organic farm integrated with university resources:
https://aces.illinois.edu/news/organic-farm-tour-boasts-nurturing-mother-earth

High School outreach, including educational unit on financial planning for young adults:
https://extension.illinois.edu/global/high-school-educational-units

Seminars for farmers on financial training for farm sustainability:
https://taxschool.illinois.edu/previousspecialtopics.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best "summer program" for a 15-year-old boy is hanging with friends, chasing chicks and trying to lose the big "V". Then when he's 16 he can throw in a lifeguarding job. I promise that living like a normal teenager for the next few years won't hold him back from being an organic farmer.

Hmm. did you post this somewhere else too?

I think it's Justice Kavanaugh posting. Get back to work, Justice!

[Anonymous]

University of Vermont has a program along these lines, I think. (UMass Amherst also might but I'm not sure.) NAU in Flagstaff always had a good environmental/forestry program, but I'm not sure if that also includes agricultural stuff.

[Anonymous]

If you google for college farms you will find a number of schools that operate farms— often as part of a broader program in ag or ecology.

[Anonymous]

Definitely check out Dickinson College in PA. They have their own farm, just to explore/advance this cause.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This might be something your DS would be interested in at some point:

https://wwoof.net/

What is WWOOF?
Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) is a worldwide movement to link visitors (WWOOFers) with organic farmers, promote a cultural and educational exchange, and build a global community conscious of ecological farming and sustainability practices. WWOOF started 50 years ago and has grown from a small group in the 1970’s to a worldwide community of hundreds of thousands of people today.

As a WWOOFer, you will participate in the daily life of your host, help on the farm, learn about sustainability, experience a new culture and meet new people,, and receive free room and board during your stay.

As a host, you will open your home to receive visitors who want to connect with organic food, farming and support the sustainability movement.

WWOOF is organized nationally so to join, select the country you are interested in from the map and get growing.

My DD as we speak is packing her suitcase to head off on her second WWOOF gig this year. Her first experience was a really good one. I think you need to be 18 but there’s all kinds of forms that you can go spend time on n to learn more about that world so something he can try in a few years.

[Anonymous]

Get an internship at one of the sustainable farms. I'm not going to post any names b/c trolls but if you Google some of the bigger names you will find they have established internships.

That's what a farmer recommended to my son. You have to be careful because "Big Ag" gives a ton of money to a lot of these schools and you don't want to waste years and $$ if that's not your interest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Definitely check out Dickinson College in PA. They have their own farm, just to explore/advance this cause.

I second the Dickinson recommendation. Their farm is amazing!

[Anonymous]

an idea for before college - semester of his junior year of high school at The Mountain School in Vershire, Vermont. This program is absolutely incredible for kids who are mature enough to go.

http://www.mountainschool.org

[Anonymous]

Such great feedback here. Thank you all!!

Will read through it and post with any questions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The best "summer program" for a 15-year-old boy is hanging with friends, chasing chicks and trying to lose the big "V". Then when he's 16 he can throw in a lifeguarding job. I promise that living like a normal teenager for the next few years won't hold him back from being an organic farmer.

So sick of this sexist way of viewing the world.

Guess what: two consenting adults do not need to "chase" each other.

That is predator thinking.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like a great kid! Cornell, Syracuse's ESF school, Penn State and Virginia Tech popped into my head.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you google for college farms you will find a number of schools that operate farms— often as part of a broader program in ag or ecology.

Agreed--and where they are might surprise you. My SLAC has a very small (1.5 acre) farm that was really important in some students' lives. (I know a couple of them ended up buying a farm and becoming organic farmers). And a friend's kid at another SLAC is currently volunteering at their 2-acre organic farm. All this is to say that your son might find the right college fit in a place not known for farming, so make sure he thinks broadly about what he wants to get out of college.