This Earth Day, 55 students from Sachem High School East participated in an educational visit to the FoodLab at Stony Brook Southampton. The event aimed to prepare them for the AP Human Geography exam. The trip, held on April 22, focused on converting classroom knowledge into practical learning on agricultural systems and their global implications.
Judiann Carmack-Fayyaz, the executive director of the FoodLab at Stony Brook Southampton, emphasized the hands-on approach by stating, "At FoodLab, we believe the best learning happens in the field — literally. Giving students the chance to connect classroom concepts with the soil beneath their feet helps them understand not just agriculture, but their role in shaping a more sustainable food future."
The program mirrored themes from the AP Human Geography curriculum, such as agricultural evolution, farming technology, environmental interaction, and global agriculture. During the visit, students attended a session with Jenn Halsey from Milk Pail Farm. She highlighted Eastern Long Island's agricultural history, providing context on historical agricultural practices influenced by environmental and technological changes.
Practical work included farm activities at FoodLab, where students explored sustainable food production and methods promoting soil health and ecological balance. Nadia Ernestus shared insights about her business as a small-batch sauerkraut producer, underscoring the significance of value-added products in small-scale farming.
Students also engaged in a World Café session to understand von Thünen’s Bid Rent Theory, examining the influence of transportation, technology, and markets on land-use decisions. This theory explicates agricultural land use patterns within food systems.
Sachem East teacher Michael Jannace, who organized the trip, highlighted the connection between theory and practice, saying, “They are getting first-hand experience for what it takes to be a farmer, from all of the labor to capital expenses.” He further noted, "Here we are at our harvest season on Earth Day, celebrating a little bit of planet Earth but also experiencing how we use the Earth to provide for the humans on the planet."
The initiative was a joint effort by Stony Brook and Sachem East, preparing students for their examinations while enhancing their understanding of agricultural systems impacting global communities.
As pressing issues like climate change and food security arise, this experience aimed to equip students with the knowledge to address future agricultural challenges. Carmack-Fayyaz concluded, “FoodLab is about growing more than food — we’re growing the next generation of problem-solvers. By connecting students to real-world challenges and asking them to seek innovative solutions, we’re equipping them to lead with knowledge, purpose, and action.”