How can we achieve this?

This can be achieved by effectively connecting the community with the concept of sustainability. Bringing community members out to the GVSU Sustainable Agricultural Project to give them a hands on opportunity with a developed garden and necessary tools, an ideal environment to learn the basics of gardening. Exposing them to native plant species as well as connecting them to a local garden, the SAP even having community garden plots for rent. Our program will include information and tips on how to introduce sustainable agriculture systems at your home and how to improve your gardening skills in hopes you can begin producing your own food.

What does this class consist of?

The curriculum would mostly be teaching in a lecture style different regenerative farming techniques without the use of chemicals in order to support the environment and also provide the best yield. A lab-like class would then meet twice a week to use the learned techniques and get hands-on experience. The lecture would be, for example, Mondays and Wednesdays for 50 minutes, with the lab being Tuesdays and Thursdays meeting at the SAP for 1 hour 50 minutes. The lab would practice the methods they learned in lecture the day before, with the end goal of the class of growing a chosen crop.

Who: Five Grand Valley Students

What: Teach people how to grow their own food in order to tackle the problem of food insecurity.

Where: The Sustainable Agriculture Project (SAP), address posted below.

Why: To educate people on the importance of self sufficiency and how they can provide food for their family cost effectively and healthily.

Design Thinking Process:

Recognizing and understanding fully that food availability is an issue for people on college campuses, and even off campuses, is tough. Even while understanding that food insecurity is indeed an issue, availability to healthy food is just another part of food insecurity that people may struggle with. Keeping this idea in mind, and thinking "outside the box", we came to the conclusion that what better way to educate people on food insecurity and healthy eating than teaching how to grow your own food? After some thinking, our group decided that it was best to host this program at a place that already emphasizes food, the SAP. Immersing yourself in this kind of environment is one of the best things that one can do to learn about healthy eating, or how you can give back to those who need it.

How:

In order to achieve this, we will need donations from the public. Through theses donations we can work on the specifics of this program such as: farm space provided by the SAP, tools required to farm, seeds for the desired fruits and vegetables, water, a directory, electricity, and of course- people that want to learn. The food grown here can go home with the farmer, but also sold at local farmers markets to help pay for next years supplies. If desired, food could also be donated to the food pantry and help people with that may need the extra resources.

Next Steps:

• Provide a yearly program that effectively educates the community, creating a steady number of new and returning guests year to year.

• Successfully educate the community on sustainable agriculture

• Impact the university positively

• Increase the possibility of decreasing the number of people in the surrounding area who are considered food insecure

References:

Snook, Dawn. 2020. Personal interview.

Sellnau, Margaux. 2020. Personal Interview.

King, Sarah. 2020. Personal Interview.

Hollohan, Kevin. 2020. Personal Interview.