Winter Break in Puerto Rico:
Love Through Agriculture

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Program Overview

Love Through Agriculture is an immersive community-based global learning program and partnership that includes on-campus pre-departure training; intensive participatory action on-site with the community partner in Puerto Rico; and post-return reflection and synthesis of learnings. This program situates the intersection of global migration and climate change through a focus on critical resource infrastructure in the archipelago of Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.

The 2 credit program is centered around a week-long immersive workshop at Plenitud—a sustainable demonstration farm in Las Marias, PR—that students may engage as a follow-on to a 4 credit on-campus course during Fall term. In the workshop, students and program coordinators work side-by-side with local facilitators and community leaders to understand and implement resource sovereignty projects designed by the educators at Plenitud. The workshop creates space - both intentionally and spontaneously- for the embodiment of LOVE through AGRICULTURE to reveal itself. This revealing will be supported by opportunities for participants to deepen the connection with self, community, and the earth through mindfulness practices woven throughout the experience. The workshop is scaffolded with on-campus coursework; facilitated training in community-based global learning (CBGL); and ongoing partnership building.

Students who participate in this program will learn to: 

• Situate localized environmental vulnerabilities within the historical forces that shape them, including colonialism, climate change, and disaster capitalism;
• Deepen relationship with self, community, and the earth through mindfulness practices;
• Engage with community members to initiate and sustain reciprocal partnerships to support local action;
• Collaborate across disciplines and methodologies to build communicative knowledge-production networks oriented toward the common good;
• Reflect productively upon the urgent global debate concerning the future of our world and the place of the human community in it.

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Academics

Eligibility
This course is open to all Drexel students. All lectures and discussions in Puerto Rico will take place in English. Spanish language skills are helpful though not required.

Credit/Registration
Students will be registered for GST T280 Love Through Agriculture 2 credits as part of their Winter course load. Students are strongly encouraged to take the fall term on-campus course GST T280 Disaster and Resilience in Puerto Rico 3 credits (Wed/Fri 12:30 – 1:50pm) or GST T380 Food and Land Security in Philadelphia (Fri 2 – 4:50 pm).

Instructors
Ahaji Schreffler, Senior Director for Education Abroad, ahaji@drexel.edu

Course Structure
In addition to immersion at Plenitud, students are required to participate in one pre-departure orientation, one half-day CBGL training, and one post-return workshop debrief (all dates TBD).

November Introductions & CBGL training         
December Immersion at Plenitud
January     Post-return follow-up & reflection   
February   Final paper/projects due

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Program Calendar
 

Arrival Date: December 13, 2024

Departure Date: December 21, 2024
*Students may extend their travel independently before or after program dates.

TENTATIVE ITINERARY

 

Day 1 
*Students fly into SJU and will be picked up by transportation provided by Plenitud PR. They will have the option to stop for a meal in San Juan.
*Arrive at the farm in the evening.

Day 2
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM: Coffee & Reading
8:00 AM - 8:45 AM: Light Breakfast & Schedule Review
9:00 AM - 11:30 AM: Tour of the Farm - Sustainable Farming in Practice
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM: Rest
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM: Brunch
1:30 PM - 3:30 PM: Introduction to Mindfulness Practices
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM: Conversation with the Directors
4:30 PM - 5:00 PM: Optional Dinner Prep Support
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Dinner & Bonfire

Day 3
6:30 AM - 7:00 AM: Guided Meditation
7:45 AM - 8:30 AM: Breakfast & Schedule Review
8:30 AM - 10:30 AM: Introduction to farm chores
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM: Compost & Compost Tea Lesson
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM: Lunch & Cleanup
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM: Mindful Journaling
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM: Optional Dinner Prep Support
6:00 PM - 8:30 PM: Dinner & Reflection Circle

Day 4
6:30 AM - 7:00 AM: Guided Meditation
7:00 AM - 7:45 AM: Farm Chores
7:45 AM - 8:30 AM: Breakfast & Schedule Review
8:30 AM - 12:00 AM: Permaculture Zones - Terraces & Greenhouse Work Parties
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM: Lunch & Cleanup
2:30 PM - 4:00 PM: Community Center Tour
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Siesta & Mindfulness Practice/ Optional Dinner Prep Support
6:00 PM - 8:30 PM: Dinner & Reflection Circle

Day 5
6:30 AM - 7:00 AM: Guided Meditation
7:45 AM - 8:30 AM: Breakfast & Schedule Review
8:30 AM - 11:30 AM: Harvest Day & Community Member Pairing
11:30 PM - 1:00 PM: Clean-up / Showers / Free time
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Lunch
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Siesta / Mindful Journaling
4:00 PM - 5:30 PM: Community Member Health Q&A (solutions based)
6:00 PM - 8:30 PM: Dinner & Reflection Circle

Day 6
6:30 AM - 7:00 AM: Guided Meditation
7:45 AM - 8:30 AM: Breakfast & Schedule Review
8:30 AM - 1:00 PM: Partner Farm - Finca Bohiti Agroecological Tour, Work Party, & Lunch
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Siesta / Mindfulness Practices
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Natural Cooking Demonstration / Class
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Dinner & Reflection

Day 7
6:30 AM - 7:00 AM: Guided Yoga / Meditation
7:45 AM - 8:30 AM: Breakfast
8:30 AM - 3:00 PM: Excursion to Hike or Beach
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Showers / Packing to leave
6:00 PM - 8:30 PM: Dinner & Final Reflection Circle

Day 8
6:30 AM - 7:00 AM: Guided Meditation
7:45 AM - 8:30 AM: Breakfast & Packing
9:00 AM depart for San Juan
Free time in San Juan

Day 9
Depart from SJU airport

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Program Fee $1,880

Due September 30th - $500 Advance Payment
Due November 1st - $1,380 Final Payment
*All payments are non-refundable unless declined admission or program cancels for unforeseen reasons.

Included in Program Fee:

• Camp arrangements (tents, sleeping bags, mats)
• Most meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
• Onsite transport
• Activities and visits
• On Call emergency & medical insurance

Not Included in Program Fee:

• Round trip airfare to/from San Juan $250
• Meals not included $80
• Course materials $25
• Spending money $100

ICA Financial Aid: Students may request an Adjusted Cost of Attendance by submitting the ICA program fee and estimated out of pocket expenses listed above to Drexel Central (via askdrexel). Doing so could make students’ eligible for additional financial aid.  Students may also be eligible to apply for Drexel's ICA Scholarships.

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More Information

Travel: A recommended flight itinerary will be provided. Students are responsible for booking their own airfare. Students are not required to obtain visas for this program, as Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States.

Partner Information: Plenitud PR is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational farm and community dedicated to service in sustainability and the arts. We provide people with the skills and knowledge needed to encourage inner growth and to live in harmony with themselves, each other, and the natural world. At the heart of our service is experiential learning in sustainability and the arts that engages people in community service, fosters relationships, and creates empowering connections.