PICA - UC Santa Cruz - Student Housing Services - University of ...

To sign up for PICA:Apply online at studenthousing.ucsc.edufor housing at The Village.On the application, mark that you"Strongly Prefer" involvement in PICA.Tell us more about your interest in thePICA themed housing option in theadditional comments section of theapplication.For more information contact:Bee Vadakan, PICA Program Managervvadakan@ucsc.eduVisit the official PICA website at ucscpica.orgPICA AT THE VILLAGEThe Program in Community and AgroecologyUniversity of California, Santa Cruz

PICAis a vibrant educational environment in which to study agriculturaland community sustainability. It may be the place for you!The Program in Community andAgroecology (PICA) began inthe fall of 2002. PICA is a living/learning program located at TheVillage in the Lower Quarry.PICA students address issues ofsustainability through a hands-onresidential living experience, turningan old rock quarry into a sustainablegarden. PICA students grow organicfood together, implement ecologicallandscaping projects around theirhousing units, and direct a Villagewide composting program. ThroughPICA, students from a variety ofmajors have the opportunity to studyagroecology and apply their academicknowledge to everyday practiceswithin their community.Sustainable Living and LearningPICA's primary academic mission isto engage students with sustainabilitythrough practical experience andthe sharing of community basedknowledge. At PICA we encouragecreative thinking, independentlearning, and communityinvolvement. We hope to givestudents the opportunity to engagecritically with issues of environmentalquality and social justice throughconnections with their food system.By starting with an understandingof local communities, we hope toempower students to bring aboutsocial change on a global level.We invite motivated people whoare excited about participatingand collaborating on building asustainable, intentional communityto join us!“We don't accomplish anythingin this world alone...and whateverhappens is the result of thewhole tapestry of one's life andall the weavings of individualthreads from one to anotherthat creates something.”-Sandra Day O'ConnorAn Intentional CommunityBy joining the PICA residentialcommunity in The Village, studentschoose to consciously and purposefullywork towards sustainability with agroup of people who share similarideals. There is an intention that isconnected to cooperative living, whereeach member of the group shares andcontributes to building community.At PICA, residents are expectedto engage with their communitythrough some of the followingactivities:R Participate in hands-on learningabout community and agroecologythrough the PICA Seminar (ENVS91/191F)R Join Saturday work days at theFoundational Roots Garden—anorganic garden dedicated to learningand sustainable food productionR Cook and share in communitymeals with food from the garden andlocal farmers marketsR Apply for local internships orinternational exchanges in agriculturalcommunitiesR Collaborate on projects withother organizations to implementsustainable practices on campusPICA residents live on-campus atThe Village in the B-Quad:R Nine single rooms, three bathroomsand a shared kitchenette in each buildingR Large community kitchen withextensive facilitiesR Paid leadership positions withinthe community to offset universityhousing costsR Located near UCSC’sinternationally renowned organicfarm and the Center for Agroecologyand Sustainable Food SystemsPICA students share theirthoughts:“PICA provides an atmosphere foreach individual to explore that whichthey feel passionate about…”“PICA seeks to help harmonize theVillage with the delicate ecosystem ofwhich it is a part. We want to grow asmuch of our own food as possible andcreate a viable, creative, consciouseco-community on campus.”“PICA involves so manydifferent people with somany different ideas...thereis an abundance of knowledgesurrounding us...about plants,animals, food, self, relationships,general well being and health.”