128 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM model. “Modern agricultural systems, for the most part, are about extracting commodity value from the land and exporting that value for profit. With agroecology, we’re really interested in, ‘How do you sustain communities?’ And ‘What role does food and land play in that?’” Meaning? “The people are a key component as much as the land is,” he asserts. “It’s about building spaces for people to come together to produce food, to share food with each other and to sustain their communities.” Patrick wraps up our tour at a plant-lined patio anchored by a pizza oven. “I wanted an outdoor kitchen right at the heart of the farm,” he says. “The farm is about growing food, but really it is about growing community. And you do that by sharing food.” Whether it’s a campus chef leading a cooking class, contenders tossing dough in a pizza-making contest, or students testing (and tasting) recipes for a new cookbook, the camaraderie is unmistakable. hundred species to date. Also spotted: clusters of Drawing 1 and Wild Writing students in the fields, sketchpads and notebooks in tow. HARVEST TIME Nature and creativity have always gone hand and hand, and the farm has become a fruitful place for artful expression. The location welcomes author events (most recently Liz Carlisle’s new book Living Roots), live music, line dancing and readings. The latter, Rooted Words, is hosted by environmental communications lecturer Tom Hayden, giving students, staff and community members the chance to read their written work. “Tom likes to do it under the Blue Oaks,” notes Patrick. “Music and arts are really an important part of agroecological expression. So when you create a farm, it’s a cultural space as much as it is a productive space,” says Patrick. While education remains the primary mission, he believes in a broader, more holistic PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF: STANFORD UNIVERSITY The Farm’s Farm GET YOUR HANDS DIRTY Plant, weed and harvest on the farm on Wednesday and Saturday mornings by registering at farm.stanford.edu/volunteering
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