In May, Fresh Focus and the Student Farm hosted campus and community organizations engaged in food culture work. Building on the 2023 Food Security Collaborative, the convening focussed on articulating and exploring different ideas of food sovereignty.

Working in the Karp Lab with Danny Karp & Austin Spence, recent UC Davis undergraduate Frank Fabbro produced a fascinating report on "Bird Diversity and Food Safety at the Student Farm". The report captures the wonderful diversity of wildlife that is possible on and around sustainable farms. Read on to learn more, or download a pdf of the report from the link below.

The Agricultural Sustainability Institute (ASI) at UC Davis has announced that for the first time in one year, two people will be given ASI’s Eric Bradford and Charlie Rominger Agricultural Sustainability Leadership Award: Dr. Stephanie Larson, UC Cooperative Extension Sonoma County Director and Livestock Range Management Advisor; and Annie Main, pioneering farmer at Good Humus in Yolo County.

Collaboration between engineering department and the Student Farm Ecological Garden was recently highlighted by UC Davis Public Scholarship & Engagement:

On a crisp fall day, the UC Davis Student Farm buzzed with energy as engineering students worked diligently under the bright sun. With shovels and paintbrushes in hand, they dug a trench, assembled wooden frames and brought their design to life.

Student Jobs at the intersection of food, land and social change.

STDT3 positions for summer 2024 & academic year 2024-2025. 

Apply by April 8th at handshake. Search for “@ the Student Farm” or use job #s below. 

A busy fall! The Fresh Focus team said goodbye and THANK YOU to coordinator Judy Jun, welcomed a new team of Lead Student Farmers and interns, and got on with the business of increasing food access and promoting food justice and sovereignty at UC Davis. Read highlights from Fall Quarter activities and learn more about the dedicated team of Lead Student Farmers, Student Farm interns, and staff.

Campus is quieter in summer, but with two Lead Student Farmers, Fresh Focus's team kept summer students supplied with fresh produce, grown by summer students. In the impact report linked below, read highlights from the quarter, including distribution to partners in Knights Landing and Davis Night Market, and learn more about the dedicated team of Lead Student Farmers, Student Farm interns, and staff.

The Student Farm is looking for someone passionate about food justice to lead our Fresh Focus program. The Fresh Focus program supports food access and food sovereignty efforts on campus and in the community, through gleaning and program-specific production at the Student Farm, collaboration with Aggie Compass, Basic Needs, and student support centers around centers, and convening of conversation about food justice and food culture at UC Davis. 

• Help kids learn more about gardens, farms, and food
• Connect to the land and practices that sustain our community and planet
• Get involved in your campus Student Farm

Lecture: Wednesdays 3:10 pm- 4:00 pm; Lab: Fridays 2:10 pm - 5:00 pm

>> CRN 35881

UC Davis’ student-led program in organic farming will expand to include new crops and new partners, with the aim of exporting its educational the model to other institutions. The expansion is being funded with a $2-million grant from the Organic Research and Extension Initiative, part of the United States Department of Agriculture.

Read more

Student Farm Lead Student Farm Rikiya Hatano was recently recognized for his scholarly promise and leadership.

Read more here, https://www.plantsciences.ucdavis.edu/news/hatano-ryerson-ucanr, and join us in congratulating Riki!

We are hiring two Lead Student Farmers in Fresh Focus, our food access, food justice, and food sovereignty program. To apply, find the position on Handshake.

Working with UCD's talented Kelly Nishimura and the entire Student Farm community, Ecological Garden Lead Julia Schreiber has been talking to staff, students and community members to update the map that welcomes people. Sitting near the corner of Extension Center Drive and Orchard Park Drive, the current map started out beautiful and has gotten more beautiful, but less readable, with age.

Led by Emmanuel Momoh (PhD Student, Geography) and funded by an SLLC Green Fellowship, the African Food Basket project began in summer 2023. To participate in the project or learn more, contact Emmanuel by email or LinkedIn.