BOT 115 CC: HOW PLANTS FEED THE WORLD

Have you ever wondered why potatoes sprout in your cupboard? Why do plants even make potatoes in the first place? And is that sweet corn you eat in the summertime genetically modified? Who were the first people to eat corn, anyway? And did you know that cashews are closely related to poison ivy? Students will learn about basic plant biology through the lens of global agriculture, with an emphasis on asking and answering questions. The course explores how different plants are grown around the world to support human nutritional needs and culinary tastes. We will also get our hands dirty - literally - growing plants and visiting local gardens and field sites.

This course includes both lecture/discussion meetings and weekly labs. Students will grow their own gardens in the greenhouse and track the development of their plants from seed to fruit through both careful illustration and scientific observation. We will also perform several experiments to learn firsthand how plants grow, what they need to survive, and how they behave in different environments. Field trips to the on-campus Sprout garden and to FRESH New London will provide a hands-on introduction to local small-scale and community farming. On field trips to the Arboretum, we will look for evidence of colonial era farms right here in New London, and talk about how the Mashantucket Pequot raised crops here before the arrival of European colonists. Last but not least, we will learn how to identify members of some of the most important crop families grown around the world.