Get Smart About Sustainable Agriculture

Image Gallery Ready to get some dirt under your fingernails? Here's a list of ways to learn about sustainable agriculture. ISTOCKPHOTO/SVETLANA PRIKHODKO

Let’s face it. The way the world goes about the business of agriculture is changing. Take corn, for example: A crop that once was grown only for food now triples as fuel and even a component of biodegradable plastics. This increased demand, along with many other factors, is forcing us to consider the sustainability of our current farming practices. If you eat, and chances are you do, you may be curious about better food and better methods of growing food. Or perhaps you’re even drawn to the idea of working the land on a farm, instead of doing paperwork in a cubicle. Either way, it can be tough to know where to begin. But we’re here with a plate full of resources to help you get started.   

Sustainable agriculture is defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Alternative Farm Systems Information Center as a system of plant and animal production practices that will satisfy human food and fiber needs while enhancing environmental quality. It is the means to ensure that the lands we farm remain productive for generations to come. The study of sustainable agriculture has made great progress, and resources abound for those who wish to learn. We’ve compiled a list of examples to get you started, from local volunteer experience to graduate university programs.  

Apprenticeships, Volunteering and Workshops

If you seek hands-on instruction, consider becoming an apprentice or intern at a nearby sustainable farm or ranch. The National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service, also know as ATTRA, keeps a regional list of farms seeking such help, or you can simply contact farmers and ranchers in your area and ask if they will show you the ropes in exchange for a little help now and then. Don’t know of any nearby farms? LocalHarvest maintains a national, searchable database of sustainable farms. Another option is to visit your area famers market (check LocalHarvest for times and locations of markets near you) and chat with the vendors. Organic Volunteers is another good resource to put you in contact with sustainable establishments willing to share their knowledge.