Masks on the face, boots on the ground!

In Fall 2020, after having a first try at remote-based schooling in the spring and summer, the University of Oregon community prepared for yet another predominately remote term. However, the Urban Farm class was given the opportunity to once again meet in person, as long as everyone wore masks and class was held in the open air. It is clear that having an in-person class was immensely gratifying for the majority of Urban Farm students. Toiling away at schoolwork within the confines of the home — often even within a single room — can make students feel isolated and stressed. The Urban Farm class serves as an outlet for these feelings, allowing students to engage with other human beings in the three-dimensional world. It also allows people to tune into natural systems and get in touch with where their food is coming from. Some students reflected on what it was like to take the Urban Farm class in the midst of the pandemic.

“At first, Urban Farm seemed to be exactly like what I would have expected if COVID had not been a thing. We were outside, in the farm, sitting on hay bales, the normal stuff. The only time class was not at the farm was when we took our written test in Lawrence, or when the weather permitted us to stay home, which I’m sure would have happened with or without COVID. We were encouraged to social distance, and everyone kept their masks on at the farm,” 3rd year Architecture major Jacob Storm explained. “When we were forced to not attend class during the weather, we watched online documentaries concerning the urban farm readings and learning. Then, the last two weeks of class, week 9 and 10 were all remote due to the rise in COVID cases during and after Thanksgiving.”

Deciding to hold Urban Farm in person did not come without its challenges. As Jacob mentioned, the last couple weeks of the class were held remotely, with the instructors asking students to stay home and watch agriculture-related films instead of coming out to the farm. Despite this, students made the most of their time at the farm, soaking up as much time in the outdoors as possible.

“I think the best part about having Urban Farm last term was that it really was a break from the monotonous Zoom classes we were taking. It felt like a breath of fresh air, both literally and figuratively — being able to feel a bit of those in-person dynamics,” Daniel Ramirez, 4th year Landscape Architecture Major reflected.

Taking class at the Urban Farm gives an opportunity for dynamism; every day is different. You never know what will come up, whether it be an early frost that encourages a quicker seeding of cover crops or a nutria invasion that shifts the day’s lesson to pest prevention. Whatever the situation, there is always something to learn in the garden. This kind of hands-on learning was just what the doctor ordered for many students who spend their days looking at a computer screen.

“The in-person urban farm class was the highlight of my Fall Term!” 3rd year Geography Major Gabe Armattoe proclaimed. “It was so nice to be able to talk and see people in person again. Overall, the class was very therapeutic for me. Being able to get out and work with my hands again was a total change of pace, but it did wonders for my mental health. It was so rewarding to leave class every day knowing that our work made a difference at the Urban Farm. Plus we got to take fresh produce home with us after every class! My instructor Jesse was a very knowledgeable and down to earth guy. I feel like I learned so much from him in such a short amount of time. I highly recommend this class to anyone who wants to get back outside and learn about the benefits of gardening!”

The life cycle of plants growing from seed to harvest is something that takes a labor of love. This is the important work that students and faculty of the Urban Farm have done since the farm’s inception. Keeping the farm functioning at its fullest capacity takes a lot of hands in the ground, working along with the seasons and doing the preparation that needs to be done for an abundant harvest. Without a full class of students, everything simply cannot get done. As Gabe suggested, every day’s work made a valuable difference in the productivity of the farm. The fall harvest was as abundant as ever, allowing students to take home produce after every class. Students carried home not only backpacks full of onions, garlic, beets, and leafy greens but also brains full of newfound farming knowledge and hearts full of sweet connection to the land.

“I think that having Urban Farm during the COVID-19 Pandemic was a beautiful experience. If social distancing is taken seriously, this moment can be really isolating,” 3rd year Architecture Major Hadley Carlberg said. “For me, the only people I routinely saw in Eugene were my roommate and my partner, so to have a set time where I could both connect with people and with nature was a much needed release. The whole environment of the class is a selfless one: whether that’s sharing food, sharing knowledge, or volunteering time, it’s all community driven. It was a very energized place to be during a time that can feel so individualized and isolating. The assignments to make local food and to read an urban farm related book were also helpful to channel my free time, which can sometimes feel aimless nowadays, into something that felt active and healthy.” 

The Urban Farm provides something undeniably special for those who take the class, and COVID-19 does not change that. The pandemic may enhance and present new feelings of disconnection: from food, natural surroundings, natural processes, and other people. The Urban Farm directly reverses this disconnect by providing a place where people can gather to work the land with fellow community members. Students can get their hands into the soil and nourish their bodies with what came from that soil, all with people who share a physical connection to that soil. It’s hard to think of a better antidote for these troubling times.