Activities | Learning is Fun

Sustainable Agriculture

Did you know that North Carolina farmers harvested over 300 million pounds of peanuts last year? Agriculture provides the food we all need to survive. Keep reading to learn about how NC farmers are using sustainable agriculture to ensure we can all continue enjoying delicious foods for generations to come.

Corn: Photo ©NC State University
Cow: Photo ©Roger Winstead/NC State University
Peanuts: Photo ©NC State University
Pig: Photo ©NC State University
Soil: Photo ©NC State University




1 Meet the Professor: Dr. Schroeder-Moreno

Meet the Professor: Dr. Schroeder-Moreno

How did you become an agroecologist?







2 What is sustainable agriculture?

Agriculture provides the food we all need to survive. Keep reading to learn about how NC farmers are using sustainable agriculture to ensure we can all continue enjoying delicious foods for generations to come.

What is sustainable agriculture?

No matter your culture, gender, age, or race we all require food at least three times a day. Everyone, in every country, requires healthy food. As more people are born and living longer, with more environmental challenges, the demand for food will increase. This is why a focus on sustainability in agriculture is important.

We want to make sure what we take from the earth to eat can be replaced. If we grow fruits and vegetables, pick them and eat them, then we should plant new ones and grow them for the next generation! We want to make sure everyone has food now and into the future.

Why is soil important to sustainable agriculture?

There are 70,000 different types of soil in the U.S. and more than 400 types in North Carolina. Soil is alive! It’s not just dirt you play in or move to make way for a street or building. Soil is living and dynamic, which means it changes and grows. Just like people!

How does soil help grow food?

Soil helps every organism on the earth grow. People, animals, and amphibians become healthy and strong by the food the soil helps produce. If we forget how important healthy soil is, then it will be harder to grow healthy food that we need to eat.

What is food insecurity?

If someone is “food insecure”, they don’t know how they will pay for or find the food they need to eat to live and stay healthy. Each day, they wonder if they have enough money to buy food to not go hungry. So, in my job, I try to help to educate others on how to grow healthy food responsibly. Soil is a big part of that process. Healthy soil creates healthy food. Healthy food helps us live longer!

What kinds of jobs can you get if you study Soil and Ecology?

  • Landscaper
  • Farmer
  • Crop Consultant
  • Soil Mapper
  • Researcher
  • City Planner
  • Conservationist
  • Scientist
  • Engineer

3 Q&A with A Sustainable Farmer: Eliza MacLean

Eliza MacLean’s farm, Cane Creek Farms, is a family-owned farm and that practices sustainable agriculture. They rotate crops and animals to keep the soil healthy. She raises pigs, goats, and sheep along with other animals, and they are never kept in confinement and have free space to roam. The animals always have access to fresh water and are either hand-fed or have free access to grain-based food.


What does sustainability mean to you, and how does it tie into the work you do?

Sustainability means being successful enough to pay the bills and create a balanced life. It means to be able to keep on keeping on and not run out of steam. It means cleaner water, cleaner air, and cleaner soils which is what our model of agriculture is about. It is a way to keep the earth and us healthy for the future.

What did you need to do before you started farming?

First, I offered my help to farmers who raised crops and livestock the way I thought I wanted to. I volunteered my time to work directly with them and learn and ask questions. I discovered this would be a seven day a week job most of the year. Then, I continued to learn how to do build a farm the best way and not make expensive mistakes.

What is your typical day like as a farmer?

We work very long hours to make things work right. Both animals and plants require a lot of attention to make sure they are growing the healthiest way possible.

Each day, I feed and water the animals. Some days, I’m building a fence building. Other days, I’m gardening, gathering, and planting. Every day is fun, and not every day is the same!

How do you see the future of farming/field of ag evolve?

I truly hope we will always recognize the importance of farming and raising healthy animals and crops. Nutrition is a basic need for all mankind, so as our population grows, there should be more need for all types of farms. It should be a part of our education from elementary school on up to help support those farms.

Advice for those wanting to become farmers?

Be a creative and very hard worker and it will pay off. It is a very rewarding profession but you have to be very flexible to keep with it.


To learn more about Eliza MacLean and her family farm, Cane Creek Farm, visit her website: https://canecreekfarm.us/about/

Little Red Understood's "Aha!" Page

Directions: Try to find the NC farm products listed below in this picture. When you see them, you may say, "Aha!" too.

  • Football
  • Envelope
  • Drum
  • Peanut
  • Corn
  • Ice Cream Cone
  • Pig
  • Fish
  • Boot
  • Question Mark

4 Glossary of Terms

Agriculture: the science of farming

Agroecology: the study of how organisms affect agriculture

Commodities: Riches that come from nature that may be bought or sold

Sustainability: meeting current needs while making sure resources are still available to take care of future needs

Ecology: the study of how organisms interact with one another and the spaces they live

Organisms: Animals, plants, or single-cell life forms

5 Activities

Food Waste Diary

Farmers work hard to put food on your plate. They’re probably sad to know that around 20% of what goes into people’s trash cans is food waste. For a week, work with your family to fill out this food waste diary. Every day, write down what happened to the leftover food after breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Brainstorm with your family about ways you can cut down on food waste next week!

Future Farmer Reading List

Do you want to read more about food and farms? Here’s a great list of books to load up on the next time you go to the local public library!

  • Before We Eat: From Farm to Table by Pat Brisson
  • Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
  • The Farm That Feeds Us: A year in the life of an organic farm by Nancy Castaldo
  • How Did That Get in My Lunchbox?: The Story of Food by Chris Butterworth
  • We're Going to the Farmers' Market by Stefan Page
  • Harlem Grown: How One Big Idea Transformed a Neighborhood by Tony Hillery

Word Search

For more practice with heart sustainable agriculture vocabulary, try this word search! Click the picture to download and print your own word search page.

Grocery Store Scavenger Hunt

Let’s take a fieldtrip! The next time a family member goes to the grocery store, ask if you can tag along. Beforehand, print out this scavenger hunt worksheet to take with you. Together, let’s explore to see if food from local farmers made it to the meat or produce aisles!

6 Printable Fact Sheets