Yes, the university offers educational programs and outreach for local or national communities on sustainable management of land for agriculture.

LOCAL

The Student Farm offers free and paid programs on sustainable agriculture and nutrition. Some events are planned and hosted by Student farm staff and students. Other events are collaboratively hosted to support gardeners of all kinds and promote the community gardens located throughout the State College area.  Events have included a Community Seed Swap, growing seedlings on campus for Meals on Wheels participants to select and have delivered to their homes in five-gallon buckets.

The Outreach program at Penn State provides connections to educational programs and outreach for local or national communities on sustainable management of land for agriculture through its programs. These include:

  • Fullers Overlook, 355 acres in North Abington, Pennsylvania, comprises more than 120 acres of forests, wetlands, and meadows, a 39+ acre lake, and a substantial array of buildings and infrastructure, all of which serve as a backdrop for multidisciplinary research and hands-on education. It serves as a beacon for research and practice in regenerative agriculture as well as a hub for education and community outreach and engagement.
  • The Franco Harris Pittsburgh Center at Penn State connects the Pittsburgh region with the University’s faculty, staff, and programs to support healthy, sustainable, innovative, and equitable communities through research, local outreach, engaged scholarship, and educational opportunities.
  • Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center connects people to people and people to place through educational and recreational opportunities for families, schools, corporate groups, and Penn State students. Visitors to Shaver’s Creek can gain knowledge, values, skills, and experiences that enable them to achieve and maintain harmony between human activities and the natural systems that support all living species.
  • The Arboretum at Penn State features gardens, groves, and natural spaces, including the Childhood’s Gate Children’s Garden and Pollinator and Bird Garden. The Arboretum is open every day from dawn until dusk and admission is free. The Arboretum at Penn State engages the academic strengths of the University in promoting scholarship and education about plants and their history and importance on Earth.

LOCAL AND NATIONAL

The Extension Office offers free publicly available resources (programs, webinars, etc.) for sustainable land management and agriculture. Land management programs include webinars, workshops, online course, and videos. Webinars, videos, and most workshops are free. Online courses have an associated fee of $39-$135 USD.

Learn more about Penn State’s progress on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals HERE and on SDG15 HERE.