Food is a marvelous thing! As a fundamental human need, it can bind us all together, but in many ways our modern food system divides us from each other, from our place on Earth and from the organisms we rely on for life. You can be a part of knitting those relationships back together by studying sustainable food systems at Goshen College. Whether you’re interested in being a grower of food, a chef, an entrepreneur who makes use of good food for your business or an advocate for making good food available to all, this major will be rich preparation for your career.
Learning about agriculture at GC will begin at our very own top-ranked Merry Lea Sustainable Farm — where 10 acres of fruits, vegetables, nuts and livestock are raised — and extends out to a wide network of farms, food businesses and nonprofits that we are connected to in our region. By visiting these professionals and working alongside them and your peers, you’ll pair deep learning about food systems with a wide range of practical skills that will be helpful now and in your future career.
Students who enroll in the nine-week residential Agroecology Summer Intensive (ASI) at Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center all share something in common: they are passionate about sustainable agriculture. ASI is the foundation of Goshen College’s sustainable food systems major and the agroecology minor. Whether you care about high-quality local food, sustainable farming practices or healthy food systems, ASI will empower you to explore your passion first-hand.
Learn more about the Agroecology Summer Intensive, a unique hands-on experience for sustainable food systems majors and agroecology minors.
Joel Pontius, associate professor of sustainability and environmental education at Goshen College’s Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center, has been named the editor for Springer Nature's Environmental Discourses in Science Education Series.
Nayla Jiménez-Cabezas '03 joined the Washington Farmland Trust team in July as a Program Associate to support our Fundraising and Farmer to Farmer programs.
This summer, 15 students participated in the Maple Scholars and Hickory Scholars, Goshen College’s eight-week, hands-on interdisciplinary summer research programs.
One of the greenest colleges in the country – Sierra Magazine
Number of days that sustainability students and faculty spend canoeing on the Elkhart & St. Joseph Rivers
Goshen College has been recognized as a “Tree Campus USA” school by the Arbor Day Foundation
Best college regionally for the money – College Factual
Ranking among the 40 best college farms, according to CollegeRanker.com
Learn more about Goshen College's exceptional academic outcomes and national rankings.
Reena is an environmental science major with an ecology focus who is involved in EcoPax, the Tree Care Committee and Student Senate, and is also a stage manager in the Music Center.
Reena's storyBauman’s calling is a combination of working for sustainability, healing, community and justice.
Nicole's storyThomas Leonard is an environmental science major from Columbus, Ohio. He enjoys watching comedies (“Anchorman” is his favorite), cheering for the Buckeyes and listening to the Lumineers and Macklemore.
Thomas' storyTheasy Eash '23 pursues career as marine researcher and in aquaculture industry.
Theary's storyKate Friesen, an English major, developed a love for farming at Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center and now runs Singletree Farm.
Kate's storyBekah’s major was environmental science, but she has a particular passion for food systems. Bekah helped to develop the garden outside of Goshen College’s cafeteria and led the campus composting program.
Bekah's storyJohn Mischler
Assistant Professor of Sustainability and Environmental Education & Director of ASI
Contact me with questions!
Jonathon Schramm
Associate Professor of Sustainability and Environmental Education
SST Tanzania: SP
Ruth Mischler
Assistant Professor of Sustainability and Environmental Education
Tom Hartzell
Merry Lea Coordinator for Residential Programs & Environmental Educator
