Graduation Year
2022
Graduation Month
May
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
School or Department
Environmental Studies
Major
Environmental Studies
Faculty Mentor
Eva Rocke
Subject Categories
Agricultural and Resource Economics | Environmental Studies
Abstract
From 2010 to 2022, the Lommasson garden was a 3,600 square feet plot of land on the University of Montana’s campus in Missoula, Montana. The space produced mixed vegetables, herbs, native plants, a beehive, and seasonal duck occupants. It was used for educational purposes, internships, and employment, including 2-6 garden interns each year. In spring 2022, the garden was demolished to make room for a new campus dining hall and the start of a new student life center. Having a space centrally located on a college campus is a great way to promote healthy eating, teach students about food system sustainability (or unsustainability), and connect campus community members to their food. My research answers three questions related to campus food production and its social and educational impacts: (1) Given the loss of the Lommasson garden space, what can/should the future of on-campus food production look like?, (2) How will student engagement and education be designed to accommodate any new garden space?; and (3) In what ways can future on-campus food production and garden spaces consider equity and justice? From research on campus farms and gardens and surveys of UM affiliates, I will develop recommendations for the future of on-campus gardens. To inform this recommendation, I will administer and analyze a survey of UM students and employees to assess how people felt about the old Lommasson garden and their thoughts about a new space. My analysis will include the location of the garden and the components within a new garden space on campus. Determining these aspects will be beneficial to UM’s campus to create a space for inclusion, equity, and community.
Honors College Research Project
Yes
GLI Capstone Project
no
Recommended Citation
Todd, Elizabeth, "The Future of Food Production at UM: Learning from the Past & Envisioning the Future of Campus Gardens" (2022). Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts. 388.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/utpp/388
© Copyright 2022 Elizabeth Todd