Good Food for All: Using Service-Learning to Teach Agriculture to Diverse Audiences.

The Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) in North Carolina strives to provide new economic opportunities in rural and urban communities, develop technologies that promote a cleaner and healthier environment, educate the next generation of farmers, consumers, and scientists, and engage all citizens in the food system.  Student programs sponsored by CEFS allow engagement in experiential learning and action education through coursework, and hands-on structured experiences in agriculture and food security. Cornerstones of CEFS educational programming include a summer internship, and partnership with the Agroecology Program at NC State University emphasizing service-learning in urban agriculture settings.  Since an increasing number of students complete university agriculture programs and obtain extension related work where they must effectively communicate science to the public, we have developed Soil Science, Crop Science and Nutrition courses designed to teach skills for engaging diverse audiences. We have designed our courses to integrate and reflect on community service with the goals of broadening undergraduate agricultural knowledge, developing teaching skills, and increasing student knowledge of food insecurity in low-income communities. In 2008 CEFS founded the Wayne Food Initiative, a collaboration of rural individuals and organizations seeking to increase the availability of fair and affordable food for those with limited access, with which CEFS interns collaborate with on a regular basis. Here we will describe these service-learning programs, and outline steps faculty and students can take to develop similar programs at their home institutions.