PEAS Farm Courses For over 25 years, the PEAS Farm has served as a hands-on classroom in sustainable agriculture, where UM students gain real-world experience in agroecology while growing 50,000 pounds of food for the community, including the Missoula Food Bank and UM Food Pantry. Through immersive field courses on a ten-acre fruit and vegetable farm, students build practical skills and deepen their understanding of alternative food systems. Why the PEAS Farm? Gain skills in horticultural techniques, agricultural equipment, and field observation Engage in place-based learning on a 10-acre farm in the Rattlesnake Valley, two miles north of campus Connect with local expert farmers, ranchers, and advocates through guest lectures and field trips Expand understanding of scientific and social concepts through real-world application Network in the local and regional food system, building relationships that lead to employment Learn from experienced farmer-instructors in small, close-knit cohorts with a low student-to-faculty ratio Fulfill internship, field work, or experiential learning credits across majors Form lasting friendships and strong peer connections through a collaborative, cohort-based learning environment How to Apply? Students should register early for the desired course on Griz Portal as they tend to fill quickly. What About Scholarships? Experiential Learning & Career Success student grants – up to $2,000 to support experiential learning courses. See more: https://www.umt.edu/experiential-learning-career-success/students/elsf/default.php Summer PEAS Farm Scholarships – up to $1,000 for students enrolled in the summer practicum. Email Caroline Stephens at caroline.stephens@mso.umt.edu for more details. Career Skills by Semester ENST 495: Spring Practicum: cultivar selection, greenhouse management, seeding, transplanting, orchard management, fruit tree pruning, soil preparation, field planning, business planning ENST 495: Summer Practicum: basic botany and plant identification, plant families, crop rotation, seedling transplanting, field irrigation, drip irrigation, weed management, pest management, produce harvesting and packing, cooking and food preservation; features 10+ field trips to leading regenerative farms and ranches ENST 495: Fall Practicum: harvest ethics, vegetable harvesting, curing and storage, specialty crop marketing, food justice, seed saving, cover cropping, winter soil management, food preservation ENST 494: Practicum in Sustainable Agriculture Education (offered fall semester): agricultural education, food education, nutrition education, outdoor education, lesson plan development, team teaching techniques, educational philosophy, farm to school programming, community service Ready to dig in? Register early via the Griz Portal – courses fill up fast! For questions, contact Caroline Stephens, PEAS Farm Lecturer at caroline.stephens@mso.umt.edu.

Enrollment at the University of Montana (since it’s a UM course) Registration in the practicum course for the semester (spring, summer, or fall) Participation expectations (often treated like “requirements”) Regular attendance on the farm (these are hands-on, scheduled work/learning sessions) Physical participation in farm tasks (planting, harvesting, maintenance, etc.) Engagement in discussions or coursework tied to food systems, agroecology, or community agriculture Willingness to work outdoors in varying weather conditions

Indirect costs: Even though not mentioned, students might personally cover: Work clothes (boots, gloves, etc.) Transportation to the farm Small incidental expenses -sunscreen, snacks, sunglasses, etc.