Wednesday, January 5th 2004

To Whom It May Concern:

My name is Nina Gonzales. I am an adjunct professor at Portland State University in the Graduate School of Education-Educational Policy, Foundations, and Administration (EPFA). The EPFA department runs a graduate degree program called Leadership in Ecology, Culture, and Learning. For the last three years I have worked in different capacities in this program, most recently teaching a course called Global Political Ecology. I also instruct an undergraduate senior capstone called Environmental Education through a Native American Lens.

Central to my work, and to PSU itself, is creating opportunities for hands-on, community-based educational experiences. Specifically, my work depends upon my ability to expose students to natural open spaces, to local organic farms, and to communities who have incorporated state of the art sustainability living practices. Without direct participation in economically, culturally, and ecologically sustainable practices, my work becomes yet another theory-based, impractical and meaningless academic experience. The great downfall of modern education is our inability to teach our students how to live in this world in a peaceful, practical, healthy, and sustainable manner. Portland State University and the Leadership in Ecology, Culture, and Learning are pioneers in bringing experiential, meaningful, and practical education to the post-secondary level.

Tryon Life Community Farm is vital to the continuation of such state of the art educational experiences. It serves as testimony to the ability of urban citizens to live in a manner that is economically, ecologically, and culturally sustainable. Furthermore, it provides students with the opportunity to learn these living tools in a hand-on manner. For example, I plan on bringing my Senior Capstone class to the Farm this term so that they can spend the morning learning about permaculture, earthen building, and have an in depth discussion about community values, communication techniques, how to weave together economic, ecological, and human needs into a sustainable life support blanket.

With their schedules packed to the brim, finding ways to bring university students to such farms is challenging. Tryon Life Community Farm is a rare gem because of its urban location, making possible experiential opportunities that otherwise we would not have time for. In addition, Tryon Life Community Farm enables my students to experience rural life for a few short hours in their hectic days- this direct exposure is healing and nurturing for my students, providing them with a taste of what they are working for in their own lives.

Portland is a unique city, being one of the first cities to understand that sustainability is multifaceted and is beneficial on social justice, community livability, economic, and ecological levels. We are blessed to live in a place of such natural beauty, of economic sensibility, and community closeness. Although my focus is the educational system, all of Portland's living systems are striving for real sustainability. Tryon Life Community Farm stands to become another one of Portland's jewels, leading the way on our quest to become the most livable and sustainable city in the nation. It should be preserved at all costs, as the gifts it provides our town are priceless.

Sincerely,

Nina Gonzales
Adjunct Professor
Portland State University