Organic Farming Alternative Break

The Jewish Farm School, in partnership with Hillel and Repair the World, provides college and university students the opportunity to participate in a weeklong, immersive service-learning experiences on organic farms. In the spring of 2012, over 115 students from 7 schools will be volunteering on sustainable rural and urban farms located at various sites in California and in Austin, Texas.

These weeklong trips combine volunteer service with an educational curriculum that focuses on the nexus of sustainable agriculture, food justice and Jewish tradition.  Participants will learn a wide range of skills in sustainable and organic agriculture such as planting, harvesting, natural building and composting. To complement the physical work, participants will engage in learning sessions that focus on Jewish agricultural, environmental and social justice themes.  

Students will gain exposure to the growing food justice movement within the Jewish and secular worlds.  Students will leave with a greater understanding of the complex issues surrounding sustainable food production and begin to develop the necessary skills and knowledge to create positive change on their campuses and in their communities.

Frequently Asked Questions

2012 Alternative Break Participating Schools, Farms and Dates:

Open: New York University, Green Gate Farms, Austin, TX: March 11-18
Dickinson College, Morning Song Farm, Rainbow, CA: March 11-18
University of Chicago, Green Gate Farms, Austin, TX: March 18-25
Open: Cornell University, various locations, Los Angeles, CA: March 18-25
Open: University of California, Berkeley, Urban Adamah and Hayes Valley Farm, Bay Area, CA: March 25-April 1
Open: University of California, Davis/Sacramento, Morning Song Farm, Rainbow, CA: March 25-April 1

The Jewish Farm School is grateful to the major funder of this program: