Blythe's Summer Farming Classes

My name is Blythe Coleman-Mumford and I am currently a Sophomore at Smith College majoring in Environmental Science and Policy, and concentrating in Sustainable Food.  One of my main interests within this field of study is looking into relationships people of color, like myself, have to agricultural work, food traditions, and cultures.  I am currently taking courses at Smith both in the the Applied and Social Sciences, and am constantly looking to apply my science background to social justice and activism around race, and food systems.  Before Smith, I started a farm at my high school in Oberlin Ohio in order to empower students to engage with their food system, and I remain committed to this cause in my life now as well.  Being a type 1 diabetic, food has taken on an important place in my life as both a conveyer of health of and a perpetuator of sickness.  In order to better understand my own body as well as engage with food related issues outside of myself, I believe food justice work is of the utmost importance to our survival as humans. 

I was recently accepted into the Food Farm and Sustainability Program at Hampshire College, part of the 5 College network of which Smith College is a member.  This program is designed to critically engage students like myself, in the environmental sciences, in pratical application of farming skills, as well as  critical engagement of issues of food justice and security.  These issues are the highlight of my academic and well as extracurricular interests, and issues I hope to engage with in my future career.  This program is a unique opportunity to employ these interests, earn academic credits, and to have more first hand experiences with farming outside my normal classroom experience at Smith.

I am seeking to raise $4,229 in order for me to attend this program and for the required transportation.  I need to be able to pay this amount by June 1st.  Your help would be so greatly valued and appreciated and would make this unique opportunity a reality!