Food and Farming in a Changing Climate

Hear from Head Climate Farm School Course Instructor, Ryan Peterson, about the impacts of climate change on agriculture and how to be part of the solution. This webinar will feature highlights from the Climate Farm School program pilots as well as information about upcoming Climate Farm School course opportunities in summer and fall 2022.

What's the Climate Farm School? Terra.do's Climate Farm School course is a hybrid online and on-farm learning experience. Host farmers welcome participants on to their farms to live, work, learn, and collaborate on advancing climate solutions. Students will have access to online content about regenerative agriculture and soil carbon, background on agriculture, food systems and food justice, and professional development resources. Instructors will facilitate sessions for personal reflection and goal setting as well as group discussion. The on-farm experience is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to participate in farm life, working alongside experienced farmers, preparing meals together with fellow participants and local chefs, and immersing yourself in the roots of our food system.

Who Would Benefit from Joining? The course attracts a diverse array of professionals, from farmers to software developers to investment professionals. It is designed to forge cross-sectoral partnerships and collaboration opportunities. Whether you are looking for an entry point into climate action or you hope to further your personal and professional climate journey in the agricultural sector, this course will empower you to take the next step.

For a detailed Climate Farm School course syllabus, click here, and check out the website here.

Head Farm School Instructor, Ryan Peterson:

Ryan Peterson is dedicated to regenerating ecosystems through food and agriculture. After beginning his career in finance, he decided to change course and study sustainability at UC Berkeley where he was captivated by the potential of food systems transformation. His master’s research focused on how policy can be used to promote agroecology in California. He went on to train as a cook at Chez Panisse before helping to launch the Culinary and Food Systems Program at The Ecology Center, a regenerative farm and ecological education center in San Juan Capistrano, California. He has worked on farms in Maine, Northern and Southern California, and Hawaii. He spends his time collaborating with farmers and chefs, developing educational events around regenerative agriculture, and reconnecting humans to nature through his cooking.

Farm School Creator, Dr. Laney Siegner:

Dr. Laney Siegner is Course Creator and Director of the Climate Farm School at Terra.do. Laney recently completed her Ph.D. at the U.C. Berkeley Energy and Resources Group. She researches sustainable, agroecological food systems and climate change education, and spent several summers working on small scale diversified farms while researching for her dissertation. She has published book chapters on teaching climate change in U.S. K-12 classrooms and on conducting participatory agroecology research. Prior to attending graduate school, she worked as a middle school teaching fellow for 2 years in Boston, MA as part of an AmeriCorps National Teaching Fellowship. When she's not teaching or learning, she enjoys being outside for a variety of physical activities- farming, worm composting, trail running, bird watching, or swimming in the ocean. She helped build the off-grid tiny house that she formerly lived in with her husband as part of the first-ever CA Tiny House Competition, and now lives at Green Valley Farm, one of the Climate Farm School host sites.