Chancellor Reyes is wasting no time getting to know the ins and outs of UMass Amherst. Stockbridge School of Agriculture is where UMass started, so Reyes decided to start here too. Last week, Chancellor Reyes visited the Agricultural Learning Center, and toured the UMass Student Farm, just north of campus.
THE STUDENT FARM PRODUCES TONS OF FRESH ORGANIC VEGETABLES, THE MAJORITY OF WHICH ARE PURCHASED BY UMASS DINING AND FED TO THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY.
Each year, community members can support the UMass Student Farm over summer by purchasing a share of the farm itself. Our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program encourages shared ownership of the farm, and shareholders are rewarded at harvest with an invitation to pick up their 25-pound crate of organic vegetables, every week through Fall. That's a lot of fresh food!
Knowing he was headed to our campus for his new position as Chancellor, Javier Reyes bought a share of the farm.
"IT'S VERY SPECIAL TO KNOW THAT THE FRESH FOOD IN OUR AWARD-WINNING DINING COMMONS WAS GROWN BY ACTUAL UMASS STUDENTS, SAID REYES. "THE SHARING OF FOOD IS ONE IMPORTANT WAY THAT WE BUILD COMMUNITY."
Another way that Reyes is creating his closer community ties of his own is by inviting the Stockbridge Floral Design class to collaborate on ways to sustainably decorate the Hillside gardens at the Chancellor's house. At the Chancellor's request, the students in Sarah Berquist's new Floral Design course used the principles they've learned to make recommendations for additional flowers to be integrated into the gardens.
"I THOUGHT IT WAS EXCITING FOR STOCKBRIDGE STUDENTS TO BE PARTNERING WITH THE CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE AS A REAL-LIFE CLIENT FOR OUR FLORAL DESIGNS." SAID PROFESSOR SARAH BERQUIST. "THIS IS THE KIND OF HANDS-ON LEARNING THAT LEADS OUR GRADUATES TO START THEIR OWN COMPANIES AND BE THEIR OWN BOSSES."
Stockbridge students also harvested flowers from the gardens and created arrangements for placement around the Chancellor's home. For several weeks, those attending pre-football game events at the Chancellor's house have enjoyed the sustainable fruits of our students' work.
Stockbridge thanks Chancellor Reyes and his office for the opportunity to share what we do every day in the quest for a more sustainable planet.