The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion and analysis.
. . . .[C]ould a humble, environmentally focused college in that Northeastern state help bring Big Ag to its knees?
Sterling College has a picturesque campus centered, literally and ideologically, on an approach to farming that’s more earth-friendly than that of the agricultural industry. Christian Feuerstein, the school’s director of communications, describes it as a “living laboratory” for sustainability and conservation.
The college — which is located in the remote town of Craftsbury — has a working livestock farm and gardens that provide about 20 percent of its food. About 100 undergrads study in such fields as ecology, climate justice and outdoor education, in addition to a number of majors rooted in farming practices.
. . . .
Sterling is one of an increasing number of schools offering degree programs focused on organic and sustainable agriculture. Since 2013, its Rian Fried Center has run courses on sustainable agriculture and food systems.
As The Associated Press noted a few years ago, the number of such programs has been surging as the agricultural industry looks to lure younger generations back to the farming life. The Sustainable Agriculture Education Association lists 38 land-grant universities, 15 other four-year public or private universities, and seven liberal arts colleges across North America that offer some kind of degree or certificate program that falls under the sustainable agriculture umbrella.
Read full, original post: How One Tiny Vermont College Is Taking On Big Agriculture
