Project Overview
Information Products
Commodities
Practices
- Crop Production: agroforestry, cover crops, intercropping, pollinator habitat
- Education and Training: mentoring, study circle, workshop, youth education
- Farm Business Management: agritourism
- Natural Resources/Environment: biodiversity
- Pest Management: field monitoring/scouting, row covers (for pests)
- Soil Management: composting
- Sustainable Communities: community development, quality of life, social networks
Abstract:
Gathering Ground’s Ground School is a summer internship that immerses young adults in sustainable agriculture. In 2023 and 2025, students experienced weekly field days at Gathering Ground's community garden, fruit and nut orchard and vineyard. In 2025, students also had field days at Gathering Ground's new Aznoe Farm with a diversified vegetable production. With weekly field days the two farms, a biweekly seminar (2023) or weekly seminars (2025) and field trips, students were part of a community of learners and practitioners. Students in 2023 were mostly first year college students looking for career paths. In 2025, we had a high school student as well as 3 college students. All of them reported that experiencing working on the farm shaped their considerations for their career and educational goals.
Project objectives:
- Increase sustainable farming skills and knowledge in youth through hands-on horticultural sessions at Gathering Ground’s orchards, vineyards, and gardens.
- Increase knowledge of modern food systems and the role of social responsibility in sustainable agriculture through seminar-style discussions of selected readings.
- Introduce youth to sustainable agriculture career opportunities through field trips to different kinds of farms and organizations that focus on sustainable agriculture.
- Students and educators will present learnings at public presentation event(s), with articles in the local newspaper, and through social media.