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2016 Spring | Agriculture and Food Systems, Education & Outreach, Sustainability

Helping Hens: How chickens can empower women and create a more sustainable food system

Student(s):

Mallory Culbertson

Program or Department(s):

  • Program on the Environment
  • University of Washington

Site supervisor(s):

Sarah Geurkink

Partner(s):

  • The UW Farm

Faculty advisor(s):

Eli Wheat, Program on the Environment, University of Washington

During my internship with the UW Farm I was able to help establish a chicken-keeping program at the University of Washington by acquiring a chicken coop, creating a chicken-keeping handbook for student farmers, and helping handle the logistical concerns of keeping chickens on a university campus. In addition to my internship, I completed a literature review on the role of chickens in sustainable agriculture and their potential benefits to women. Through this research I was able to discover that chickens can play a large role in creating a more sustainable food system, empowering women, and eradicating food insecurity.