This summer course will introduce students to a broad spectrum of agricultural traditions from first principles and long-held practices to unconventional regenerative farming and digital precision technologies. Through farm-visits we will see the ecology of farms in Maine. Tours and interviews with farmers develop our line of inquiry as we take in a wide variety of production, from no-till organic to oyster ocean farming and vertical urban farming. We will develop a working understanding of soil, plants, animals, and the physical and conceptual labor which a farmer brings to the landscape.
Course Dates: Jun 10, 2024 — Jul 1, 2024
2.5 GPA required. Non-RISD participants see eligibility requirements below.
John Bliss, Broadturn Farm, Maine Farmland Trust, The Greenhorns
Included tuition, accommodation, in-country transportation, field trips, entrance fees, some meals and international travel health insurance.
Agriculture is a problem-solving endeavor and a fundamental system design challenge. How and why have farmers sought to mimic natural systems while simplifying production? What are the dominant modes that have led to industrial farming and what problems do alternatives address? Most importantly, how will we engage in food production in a changing climate and increasing demand, while respecting our nearly universal need for cultural connection to this, our most intimate relationship to the natural world?
This summer course will introduce students to a broad spectrum of agricultural traditions from first principles and long-held practices to unconventional regenerative farming and digital precision technologies. Through farm-visits we will see the ecology of farms in Maine. Tours and interviews with farmers develop our line of inquiry as we take in a wide variety of production, from no-till organic to oyster ocean farming and vertical urban farming. We will develop a working understanding of soil, plants, animals, and the physical and conceptual labor which a farmer brings to the landscape.
Summer in Maine can be idyllic and we will spend time connecting the rigors of farm life to an aesthetic experience of living close to nature. Every farmer must consider how their small business economy intersects with values of care and regeneration. We will explore cultural models which evolve from human engagement in natural ecology, delving into biodynamic farming, carbon farming, permaculture, precision, hydroponic and robotic agriculture. Each trend represents a designed solution to the on-going challenges of coaxing food from nature.
Learn more about Broadturn Farm here.
Learn more about Maine Farmland Trust here.
Learn more about The Greenhorns here.
If your current cumulative GPA is 2.5 or above, you are eligible for registration. If your current cumulative GPA is lower than 2.5, you must first contact the Registrar at registrar@risd.edu to seek exception to this academic policy.
If you are a college student currently enrolled in another art/design college or institution around the world, or a professional practicing in the field, you are eligible for registration. We will collect a recommendation/support form from your institution/workplace.
In order to register for RISD Global summer studies, you are expected to have a high level of English (speech, writing, and comprehension) as all coursework and critique is delivered in English.
Global Summer Studies are three weeks long and take place in June/July, and you are required to attend all program activities scheduled during the travel course. RISD Global Summer Studies comply with RISD class attendance policy. In case of unexcused or multiple absences, you may be removed from the course, given a grade of “W" (withdrawal) or a grade of “F” (fail).
Requesting to withdraw from a RISD off-campus global learning program, including RISD Global Summer Studies, prior to the start of the course is highly discouraged and requires a formal process outlined in the RISD course withdrawal policy. It is not possible for a student to drop a RISD Global Summer Studies travel course via the standard Add/Drop process after it has commenced. In the case of unforeseen and extenuating circumstances (and only after students have spoken with the faculty lead and RISD Global for approval to withdraw from the program), students should be aware that no refund will be issued.
In order to reserve a seat, a non-refundable deposit of $500 is required at the time of application submittal. Students who apply between February 1, 2024, and March 1, 2024, will have until March 1, 2024, to submit full payment. Student who apply between March 2, 2024, and the application deadline, March 15, 2024, will make full payment within 24 hours of the application being submitted. Students that fail to make full payment by their deadline will forfeit their $500 deposit and their seat in the course.
All RISD students enrolled in RISD and other full degree schools/universities are required to remain in good academic standing in order to participate in Global Summer Studies. A minimum GPA of 2.5 is required for all RISD students. Failure to remain in good academic standing can lead to removal from the course, either before or during the course.
In cases where summer travel courses and studios do not reach full capacity, the course may be canceled after the last day of registration. As such, all students are advised not to purchase flights for participation in Global Summer Studies courses until the course is confirmed.
The deadline for Global Summer Studies 2024 has now passed.
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Have questions? The RISD Global team is available to meet for a 1:1 advising session. We can give you more information about your study options, help you figure out which program makes sense for you, and assist you with the application process.
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