One of our key goals for the Field & Fork Program is collaboration. To fully understand the food system, we need a broad diversity of perspectives and disciplines. As such, we strive to work with departments and units across campus, as well as a variety of industry and community organizations.
Here are some examples of our collaborations:
UF Dean of Students Office CARE Area – The CARE Area (UMatterWeCare), part of the UF Dean of Students Office, oversees the Alan and Cathy Hitchcock Field & Fork Pantry. In conjunction with this team, our program is able to provide food to those in our campus community experiencing food insecurity. The partnership also allows us to create a food supply chain that mimics a retail outlet and provides hands-on experience for students in many aspects of our food system such as production, food safety, post-harvest quality and marketing.
UF/IFAS Extension Master Gardener Program – The Master Gardener Program provides guidance and resources for the development and management of garden demonstrations at the Student Gardens. In addition, the Alachua County Master Gardeners provide hands-on support to train our interns and keep our gardens looking great.
Florida Museum of Natural History (FLMNH) – The Florida Museum of Natural History collaborates on communication about the bat houses and has supported our native plantings.
UF College of the Arts – We’ve supported MFA student project development and provided space for exhibition. Our Welcome kiosk and crop signs were developed in collaboration with the College of the Arts Mint Design Studio!
UF College of Design, Construction and Planning (DCP) – The College of Design, Construction and Planning has taught several classes as well as a design/build studio in conjunction with our Program. As a result, students have been actively involved in the planning, design and construction of the gardens and infrastructure for our program. One example of this collaboration is the packing shed just north of the Bat Houses.
UF Human Resources Wellness Program – The Field & Fork Program provides webinars, workshops and presentations for the HR Wellness program. This collaboration has assisted with sharing Field & Fork Program goals with national audiences in this field.
UF/IFAS Extension Small Farms and Alternative Enterprises – The Field & Fork Program works with Extension on several projects, from hosting demonstrations, events and programs on gardening, variety trials, Florida bats, and many other topics supporting the Florida Agricultural Network and Small Farms program to provide outreach for small farms and alternative enterprises.
Working Food – The Field & Fork Program provides support for the development of a community food center in Gainesville, and has collaborated with Working Food for various efforts, including seed saving and variety trials at the Farm and Gardens.
Alachua County Farm to School (F2S) – The Field & Fork Program explores ways for interns to assist with the F2S program. The Field & Fork Program also provides guidance, support and resources to F2S as needed.
Family Garden – The Family Garden has provided us with ideas, advice and seedlings for our production. We connect our students to Family Garden operations through volunteer opportunities and internships.
Siembra Farm – Siembra has provided us with ideas, advice and seedlings for our production. We connect our students to Siembra operations through volunteer opportunities and internships, and they have hosted us for gleaning opportunities, donating over 1,000 pounds of produce to the pantry!
Frog Song Organics – Frog Song has provided opportunities for their members to provide donations of produce from their farm to the on campus Alan and Cathy Hitchcock Pantry, part of the Field & Fork Program. This produce supplements the food coming from our fields here at UF.
