Sustainable Agriculture and Food Studies
Bachelor of Science or Arts Major
Many of the world’s gravest problems start with the way we eat—climate change, habitat loss, geopolitical inequality, health, and wealth disparity all have links to farming and hunger. What if a solution was as simple and elegant as changing how we produce and consume food? Imagine a world with a food system that yields justice, resiliency, and regeneration, as well as nourishment.
You’ll study the ecology of agricultural systems, learn traditional farming practices, and gain a greater understanding of politics in food systems. Not only will you be uniquely prepared for a career in fields such as farm management, agricultural research, veterinary medicine, and food justice advocacy, you will also be empowered to sow the seeds of a better world.
Why study Sustainable Agriculture and Food Studies at Warren Wilson?
- You’ll practice what you learn on campus and become familiar with the College’s food system and working landscape, including the college farm, composting facility, agroforestry system, ecological landscaping, and cafeteria.
- At WWC, you become part of the legacy of one of the nation’s oldest and highest-rated farming schools, in continuous operation and cultivation since 1894.
- You’ll have the opportunity to manage a farm business, run a compost facility, build fence lines, birth a calf, manage an apiary, and engage across a spectrum of activities in a working landscape.
Every student will complete community-engaged coursework, an internship, and original research as part of their major
A Sample of Our Partnerships
- Hickory Nut Gap Farm
- Caney Fork Farms
- Grassroots Aid Partnership
- Bountiful Cities
- Equal Plates Project
- Southside Community Garden
- Dr. John Wilson Community Garden
- Bounty and Soul
See how Sustainable Agriculture students put our education into action
Study Abroad
Students explored the topic of care farming, which employs the use of farming tasks and practices as a form of therapy, with a focus on the development of this style of treatment in the Netherlands. While on campus, students visited local facilities that use interaction with plants and animals as therapeutic interventions and contribute to the development of a domestic Care Farming Network. Students then traveled to the Netherlands for two weeks, where they developed hands-on skills interacting with plants and animals through their immersive work experience at the Noorderhoeve care farm in the Dutch countryside, while also exploring nearby Amsterdam and other urban centers.
Research
We are always searching for more environmentally sound solutions to our pest problems, and Marlene Marsh tested one such method in her thesis. Marlene tested the effectiveness of mugwort in deterring granary weevils from eating the Farm’s corn supply. She found that fumigating corn with 100% mugwort essential oil was a strong deterrent, leading the way for future trials and hopefully a less damaged corn crop in future years!
Senior Capstone
Farm Crew member Ahmed Keller put his scientific skills to use in his capstone research: “Effects of Tillage on Soil Properties in A WWC Farm Barley Field,” assessing soil traits such as water content and compaction as well as the effects of season on soil properties. His study established a useful baseline study to track the long-term impacts of no-till agriculture on our farm!
Community Engaged Course
Partnering with the Utopian Seed Project and Sow True Seeds, students in Agroecology participate in semester-long experiments to support local seed saving efforts through traditional agricultural practices.
Work
You can work on any crew as a student but many Sustainable Agriculture majors choose to be on crews such as:
- Farm
- Garden
- CORE (Climate/Sustainability)
- Local Foods
Popular Courses
Introduction to Sustainable Agriculture
Explore the sustainability of contemporary farming systems through studying the history of food production in the United States and the development of ecological agriculture. You’ll learn about the rise of industrial and ecological forms of U.S. agriculture in the 20th century and consider the ethical, economic, ecological, and social dimensions of agricultural sustainability.
Agroecology
Get introduced to the science of agroecology with a focus on the principles and practices of ecological crop and livestock production. You’ll apply basic ecological concepts to assess the structure and function of soil, plant, animal, and pest processes in agricultural systems and practice the use of adaptive management strategies and sustainable decision-making to enhance agroecosystem resilience.
Introduction to Animal Science
In a variety of experiences, both on and off campus, you will focus on the biology, husbandry (management), and human uses of domestic animals. You’ll explore topics such as domestication, reproduction, basic genetics, artificial selection and breeding, animal health and disease, husbandry of major domesticated animal species, and animal welfare.
Liz Benavides, Ph.D.
Research Interests
- Animal Science/Animal Physiology
- Plant-based anthelmintics (de-wormers)
- Animal Endocrinology
“At Warren Wilson, I have most enjoyed learning from my students as much as I am teaching them. Their wealth of experiences has not only been valuable in my lessons, but I have learned so much from them as well!”
Amy L. Knisley, Ph.D.
Research Interests
- Community-based engagement with hazardous waste remediation
- Environmental justice, particularly issues impacting people of color in eastern NC
- The law of water rights, especially in the context of Rocky Mountain west
“Teaching and learning at Warren Wilson is not for the faint of heart! And some days I wake up tired. But the strong-hearted, active-minded students and educators, busy together in this beautiful valley and beyond, send me home energized every day.”
Mallory McDuff, Ph.D.
Research Interests
- Involving faith communities in climate action
- Integrating local communities into environmental education
“The best part of the job is watching students graduate with a strong portfolio of experiences and find meaningful work connecting people to places.”
“I work for an organization that is focused on supporting small farms in our area in order to provide fresh, local, healthy food boxes to those still affected by Hurricane Helene. I get to directly support small farms in the community, individuals I worked alongside for years, while also providing high quality, free(!), food support to those in need. […] I am thankful to be able to work directly with the local farming community in order to do disaster relief work, and as well to have so many community members involved in our efforts.”
Clara Zander
(she/her)
Volunteer Coordinator and Food Procurement Coordinator at Grassroots AID Partnership
Major, Minor, Concentration, Crews
- Sustainable Agriculture and Conservation Biology Double Major
- Biology Minor
- Crews: Garden and Landscaping/Tractor
“The classroom at Warren Wilson was great, but my most valuable lessons at Warren Wilson happened at work. On both my Res Hall Maintenance crew and Farm Crew, I learned to treat every job with intentionality and commit to getting the work done right. I also learned how to relate to and get curious about different kinds of people. I learned how to pick up skills quickly, ask good questions, and make myself a valuable member of a team.”
Virginia Hamilton
(she/her)
Head of Operations at Hickory Nut Gap Farm
Major, Minor, Concentration, Crews
- Environmental Studies Major
- Concentration in Sustainable Agriculture
- Crews: Residence Hall Maintenance and Farm
Where Our Sustainable Agriculture Graduates Go
- Hickory Nut Gap Farm
- Caney Fork Farms
- Grassroots Aid Partnership
- Bountiful Cities
- Equal Plates Project
- US Peace Corps
- Appalachian State University
- NC State University
- Clemson University
