The Farm at Black Mountain College

Opened in 1933 and closed in 1956, Black Mountain College was a small, experimental art college located just outside of Asheville, North Carolina. Today, Black Mountain College is considered the most influential art school in the history of US higher education. Black Mountain College also featured a unique work program, a set of chores and tasks performed collectively by students, faculty, and staff that helped the campus thrive and, at times, survive. Most of this work took place on the campus farm.

Visiting scholar David Silver, associate professor of media studies, environmental studies, and urban agriculture at the University of San Francisco, will trace the history of the farm at Black Mountain College and connect its farm program to today's attempts towards "green campuses" and environmental sustainability.