Integrated Food Systems Education: A Network Assessment of Bellingham, WA

As a community member, student, and educator within Bellingham's food system I had hoped to contribute to the community's food education programming by developing and teaching an integrated food system curriculum. This project documents the development and repeated roadblocks to applying this curriculum. In response, I considered an alternative approach. Rather than trying to teach something novel as a relative newcomer and novice to an established community, why not learn from the existing network of food system educators. Under this new direction, I pressed forward by interviewing five local food educators from separate institutions that serve varied audiences and teach different but overlapping content. This assessment of Bellingham's food system education network culminated in four value-based and pedagogical recommendations for building inclusivity within the community.