Join us as we welcome Carlo Moreno and Jim Duxbury on The Science of Community-Based, Participatory Action Research: Traditional approaches to scientific research do not typically account for interactions within complex social-ecological systems, nor do they excel at incorporating multiple forms of knowledge. Here we argue that complex environmental endeavors, such as sustainable agriculture, benefit from alternative approaches to science that promote collaboration and co-production of knowledge amongst stakeholders such as researchers, growers, and the larger community. In this talk, we discuss how a community-based, participatory action research approach is being used to investigate organic soil management and lavender production practices at Lavender Trails, a brownfield-turned-U-Pick lavender farm in Orrville, Ohio.    

Carlo Moreno has a PhD in Environmental Studies from the University of California Santa Cruz. Moreno is an agroecologist and entomologist, and specializes on ecological and social questions in agricultural and natural systems, with a particular focus on human-insect-plant interactions. Moreno’s work explores three general areas of inquiry: 1) the effect of biodiversity-based agriculture on arthropod predator-prey interactions and ecosystem services, 2) the role of knowledge transfer and collective action in the adoption of integrated pest management practices, and 3) the use of participatory action research approaches to address local sustainability issues.

Jim Duxbury is an Environmental Geo-Science teacher at Orrville High School, an adjunct professor at 3 universities, and co - owner of Lavender Trails Farm. Lavender trails is providing over 4 acres of land, formerly a concrete dump, that has been converted into a 1600+ plant lavender farm. The Duxbury's will play an integral role in the planting, care, and outreach to the public regarding this and additional educational and research plots planted on the property.