Alyssa Billys

GFI Fellow - Class of 2015

Undergraduate Student, Environmental Studies (Agriculture)
and Language Studies (Spanish)
UC Santa Cruz

Project

Experiential Learning Videos, Sustainable Agriculture Inventory and Farm to College

Description

Experiential Learning Video Subcommittee: These videos highlight how experiential learning at the UC Santa Cruz Center For Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems (CASFS) has an effect on students' ability to learn and understand the complex nature of food systems. We will have three videos featuring internships and classes, farm apprenticeship, and another depicting food systems work and organizations on the UC Santa Cruz campus. Sustainable Agriculture Inventory Subcommittee: This inventory will serve as a database where one will be able to search for sustainable agriculture research and food systems work that is happening on UC campuses as well sustainable farms in California. The subcommittee is currently operating at UC Riverside, UC Berkeley and UC Davis. Farm to College: This year I have been working with the CASFS farm and the UC Santa Cruz dining halls to get more food grown on the farm into students' hands. This year we have been able to start up a berry stand where students were able to buy strawberries and blueberries from the campus farm.

Goals

Help students be more aware of their food system, show how experiential learning on the farm impacts overall understanding of agriculture and food systems environmentally and socially, and provide a database that will allow others more access to sustainable research and methods.

Future Plans

I plan on helping finish the last two experiential learning videos and creating the sustainable agriculture database by fall 2015. I also hope that I will be able to help train someone so that they con continue to strengthen and supplement the farm-to-dining relations.

Mentors

Daniel Press, Tim Galarneau, Damien Parr, Katie Monsen, Darryl Wong, Eliza Milano and Kirstin Yogg