Spring Valley Student Farm Cooperative Housing Application Fall 2013

Please review the information below before completing the application questions. Information about the Spring Valley Student Farm Community and Initiative Spring Valley Student Farm Concept: Spring Valley Student Farm (SVSF) was created in spring 2010 and has become an extension of the EcoHouse Living Learning Community. It provides an opportunity to learn about organic farming through applied learning while also providing a residential living option with additional independence and responsibility appropriate to returning upper-class students. Spring Valley Student Farm exists as a collaborative venture between Residential Life, Dining Services, First Year Programs and Learning Communities, the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and the Office of Environmental Policy. Spring Valley Student Farm Mission: EcoHouse and Spring Valley Student Farm exist to foster meaningful student learning, engagement, collaboration, and camaraderie around environmental and sustainability issues. As an extension of the EcoHouse Living Learning Community, SVSF provides students the opportunity to act on their interest in sustainable agriculture through organic farming. Living and working at the farm allows students to gain practical knowledge and skills through experiential learning while simultaneously modeling a closed loop food model in which organic produce is grown on campus for UConn Dining Services. Spring Valley Student Farm aims to be a place where students, faculty, staff, and Storrs-Mansfield community members can come together to learn about the connections between land, food, and people. Spring Valley Student Farm Goals: Promote EcoHouse at Spring Valley Student Farm as an example of sustainable education and living for the UConn campus, local community and the state of Connecticut Model efficient, effective, sustainable farming practices that are economically viable and ecologically sound Serve as a vanguard for a local, organic food movement on the UConn campus by encouraging students, faculty, and staff to consider the environmental and human impacts of the foods they consume daily Encourage imaginative, innovative, and creative thinking to achieve more sustainable lifestyles and solutions Evolve into an organic farm that produces hundreds of varieties of vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers Host workshops, seminars, tours, and volunteer work days for campus, local residents, and local schools

Additional Information: SVSF is located at 104 and 86 Spring Manor Road in Mansfield off Route 32 just north of the intersection with Route 44. Applicants must have been EcoHouse residents for one year. Farm residents are considered members of EcoHouse and therefore must take 1 EcoHouse class per semester as part of their EcoHouse commitment. With completion of ten hours of volunteer time per week SVSF residents pay $200/month in rent that is collected on a monthly basis. This fee includes all utilities including electricity, water, trash, snow removal, cable, and wireless internet. The monthly fee does not include a meal plan. In exchange for this discounted living arrangement, all students selected to live at SVSF are expected to contribute 10 hours a week toward running the farm during the academic year. There is no University transportation provided between the farm and the main Storrs campus. The farm is located about one mile from the Depot Campus where the bus line runs. Those interested in additional responsibilities may apply for student employment positions through Dining Services. Independent study credits are also possible with a sponsoring faculty member in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Email Julia.cartabiano@uconn.edu or phone 860-508-7706 with questions. On a separate sheet please provide brief answers to the following questions. 1) Please provide contact information including name, home address, local phone number, email address and Peoplesoft number. 2) Tell us a little bit about yourself. Who are you? (major, semester standing, interests, hobbies, goals, etc.) 3) Why are you interested in living at Spring Valley Student Farm? 4) Please describe how your experience at EcoHouse has influenced your decision to apply to live at Spring Valley Student Farm. With concrete examples please describe what in-class and out of class EcoHouse experiences led you to consider joining the SVSF community. 5) How do you envision the farm experience will improve your effectiveness in educating EcoHouse and non-EcoHouse students about sustainable agriculture and food systems? How do you plan to share your knowledge with the greater community? 6) SVSF residents will be responsible for tending to the farm, planting, turning compost, harvesting and processing produce, taking care of the chickens, spring planning, etc. Please describe your past experience gardening or working on a farm. 7) Residents of SVSF are required to give a presentation each semester to EcoHouse on a topic of interest and to be part of a production area team. What topics are you interested in exploring? 8) What other relevant experience do you have that would make you an ideal candidate for Spring Valley Student Farm? (course work, honors, awards, scholarships, co-curricular activities, volunteer or service work, work experience, living experiences, study abroad, etc.) 9) If selected to live at SVSF, what new ideas would you have for improving the farm and the community? How would you be an active member and contributor at Spring Valley Student Farm? How would you further the goals of the community? 10) Please state your interest and willingness to live at SVSF during summer 2014. Please return completed application to envelope on Brigids office door by Friday, March 1, 2013