Degree Name
MA in Sustainable Development
First Advisor
Kanthie Athukorala
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to explore whether a modern local gleaning effort- the Intervale Center’s Gleaning Project (GP) is a sustainable project used to meet the basic needs of Chittenden County, VT’s low income residents. Using a case study approach, data was collected by the creation of a literature review; an analysis of my own experiences gleaning; interactions and observations of farmers and the beneficiary organizations involved with the GP; documents and websites produced by the VFB, the IC, and other gleaning organizations; and through interviews with two individuals relevant to gleaning and the GP. Using both a categorical and holistic analysis I analyzed data collected about the GP. The GP's sustainability was then evaluated against my own definition of sustainable development. Through careful research and analysis I have found that the GP does not satisfy the full requirements I set forth for sustainability- it is not beneficiary-led and does not impart a significant transfer of knowledge. As a result, I have concluded that the GP cannot be considered sustainable. Future recommendations to make the GP sustainable include defining who the targeted beneficiaries population are (e.g. what does “low income” mean), engaging the beneficiary population to lead all aspects of the GP, and offering nutrition and cooking classes to teach beneficiaries how to use available local produce. Additionally, the GP must develop a monitoring & evaluation plan in order to track program delivery and impact.
Disciplines
Agricultural and Resource Economics | Community-Based Research | Policy Design, Analysis, and Evaluation
Recommended Citation
Novak, Sara Jane, "Gleaning Reinvented: What Possibilities Might a Traditional Model Offer To A Modern Local Effort?" (2010). Capstone Collection. 1416.
https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/capstones/1416