91èÏÈÉú

What initially attracted you to 91èÏÈÉú?

Munist: I knew I wanted the freedom to explore different disciplines. 91èÏÈÉú provided the space for me to take both art and natural science classes without worrying about meeting class requirements. Having access to the variety of courses offered by the Five College Consortium was also important to me, as I wanted the chance to explore as much as possible.

Spell: 91èÏÈÉú’s experiential education model, campus farm, and connection with the Five College Consortium were all selling points for me. I knew that agriculture was an inherently interdisciplinary field and I wanted to be able to consider all aspects while prioritizing hands-on education. I loved the idea of having my home school be very small and still having access to the breadth of courses offered at a larger university, the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

What are you studying? Is it what you thought you'd focus on when you came here or did it change along the way?

Munist: My time at 91èÏÈÉú definitely hasn’t been a straightforward journey, though many of the themes and subjects I’ve found are coming together in my Div III project. Art and ecology may seem like very separate disciplines, but throughout my studies I’ve found many overlapping themes of community and creativity that often influence each other in surprising ways. To those outside of 91èÏÈÉú, I say I’m a double major, but within the 91èÏÈÉú community I would call what I’m studying an interdisciplinary exploration of farming, design, and art.

Spell: I’m studying agroecology. I knew sustainable agriculture was what I wanted before attending college, but I didn’t know what form that would take. For my first two years, I was heavily involved in the hard sciences and in agricultural laboratory work, mainly soil science and microbiology.

After a research internship between my sophomore and junior years, it became clear that my passion was not in the lab, but rather with farming and working with farmers. 91èÏÈÉú gave me the opportunity to switch gears to more systems-based approaches to agriculture, and I’m so happy with this change. Now, I get to study agriculture from both ecological and social standpoints, which I feel has given me a much more holistic understanding of the field.

How did your collaborative Div III project come to be? What have been the challenges and discoveries along the way? What are your plans for its completion?

Munist and Spell: Our Div III journey started when we met working at the 91èÏÈÉú Community Garden in our second year. We immediately clicked and started our working relationship and friendship on the foundation of our love for growing food in community. In the fall of our third year, we worked together on a joint independent study at the 91èÏÈÉú Farm with two other peers, Kelly Malone-Wolfsun F22 and JadeRose SanGiovanni F22. This was the first season the farm implemented no-till farming, a sustainable agricultural practice aimed at reducing soil disturbance and fossil fuels from tractor use.

We stayed connected to the folks at the farm, and the Div III project naturally came to be as we witnessed the difficulties in the transition from full tillage to no tillage. Now, we’re working together on creating a handbook titled Changing Landscapes: A Guide to No-till Farming on Educational Farms. Following an argumentative section written by Hallie, interviews with production no-till farmers, College farm directors, workers, and farm-based educational nonprofits will inform the rest of the guide. The handbook will also contain illustrations using printmaking methods made by Leyla.

Have any particular professors/advisors/staff members been especially inspiring or supportive? In what ways?

Munist and Spell: We’ve been fortunate enough to work with many amazing people throughout this whole process, including farm staff and faculty, such as Farm Director Emily Landeck and Vegetable Manager Joe Cecchi (as well as former vegetable manager Rose Cherneff).

Assistant Professor of Ecology and Global Change Jenny VanWyk, the chair for both of our Div III committees, has been very influential to both of us. Nathalie Arnold, professor of anthropology, literary arts, and African studies, was critical in helping Hallie connect interdisciplinary ideas, and Betsey Garand, senior resident artist and printmaking professor at Amherst College, has been an amazing source of inspiration and guidance for Leyla in her artistic work.

What do you do for fun?

Munist: I love ceramics, printmaking, and crafting in general. I also play guitar and love different forms of movement like yoga and dance. I’ve spent time doing work-trades on farms in different places and environments, which has fostered my love for travel and adventure, and I hope to keep exploring after I graduate.

Spell: I rock climb, play roller derby, weight lift, meditate, garden, cook, and do art for fun. I love road tripping, which is helpful as an out-of-state student from Florida. I’m currently learning how to make kombucha and sourdough!