Inspiring Conversations on Food, Wellness & Community
The ASU Farm Speaker Series brings together changemakers, educators, and community leaders to share knowledge, lived experiences, and actionable insights around topics central to our mission — including sustainable agriculture, food justice, wellness, education, and community empowerment.
Through these thought-provoking events, we create a space for meaningful dialogue that bridges academic research, hands-on practice, and lived realities. Each speaker offers a unique perspective that challenges, inspires, and mobilizes our community to reimagine the future of food systems.
Upcoming Events
Hope in a Time of Climate Change: Lessons from Wendell Berry
Join us for a talk with scholar Michael Lamb exploring how we can face the realities of climate change without falling into despair. Drawing on the work and life of farmer and writer Wendell Berry, Lamb considers hope as an ecological virtue and a resource for responding to environmental challenges.
Thursday, October 22 | 3–4 p.m (RSVP)
Free
Supported by Center for Environmental Stewardship & Character Building (ASU Farm)
Plants Native to the Americas Symposium: Rare Book Presentation
Explore the history of plant life in the Americas through a special presentation of rare books from ASU Library’s collections. Seonaid Valiant will share early modern works and contemporary artists’ books that illuminate the ecology and plant history of Mexico, including early documentation of Indigenous plant knowledge and Nahuatl plant names.
Thursday, October 8 | 1–2 p.m (RSVP)
Free
Supported by Center for Environmental Stewardship & Character Building (ASU Farm)
Rooted in Tradition: Sonoran Desert Food Plants and Their Indigenous Uses
Explore the Sonoran Desert through the knowledge of its original stewards, including the Tohono O’odham and Akimel O’odham. Ethnobotanist Wendy Hodgson will share how Indigenous knowledge and nutritional science reveal the remarkable diversity of desert food plants and their potential for health, climate adaptation and community wellness.
Thursday, October 8 | 4:30–5:30 p.m (RSVP)
Free
Supported by Center for Environmental Stewardship & Character Building (ASU Farm)
Past Events
Dr. Perpetua Kirby – ASU Farm Speaker Series
ASU Farm hosted Dr. Perpetua Kirby from the University of Sussex (UK) for a thought-provoking session on food growing in higher education. Dr. Kirby explored how cultivating food can engage students in deeper ethical, social, and environmental questions beyond traditional learning approaches.
Klan We Talk?: An Evening with Daryl Davis
ASU Farm hosted an evening with Daryl Davis, renowned blues and rock musician and longtime collaborator of Chuck Berry. Davis shared his experiences engaging in dialogue across deep racial divides, emphasizing the power of listening, empathy, and civil conversation in building stronger communities.
Fall 2025
Leopold and Environmental Stewardship
Roberta L. Millstein, author and professor, presented insights from her book The Land Is Our Community: Aldo Leopold’s Environmental Ethic for the New Millennium. The talk revisited Leopold’s influential “land ethic,” emphasizing the interconnectedness of soils, waters, plants, animals, and people. Millstein explored how these ideas can guide modern conservation, ecosystem restoration, and community-based stewardship efforts. The event welcomed students, faculty, and community members interested in sustainability and environmental ethics.
Community Engagement Highlight
In addition to public lectures, ASU Farm engages with local communities through tailored presentations. In Spring 2025, the team gave a special presentation to residents at Mirabella at ASU, sharing insights into sustainable agriculture, the ASU Farm mission, and ways for intergenerational communities to get involved in the future of food systems.
Spring 2025
Growing Food Through a Human Development Lens
Moses Thompson, founder of the Manzo Ecology Program and longtime school counselor, spoke about the therapeutic power of gardening in promoting lifelong wellness, emotional resilience, and culturally responsive education. His work, featured in National Geographic and academic journals, has reshaped the way school gardens are used for K–12 enrichment and community empowerment.
Engagement in Action
In November 2024, ASU Farm co-hosted an event with the Cultivating Civic Virtues through Action project, welcoming Swami Amritaswarupananda Puri, President of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham and senior disciple of Amma. The lecture, Addressing Today’s Global Challenges, explored themes of compassion, sustainability, and global responsibility, drawing on experiences from the Civil 20 (C20) during India’s G20 Presidency. The event connected community members, students, and faculty in meaningful dialogue on ethical leadership and civic engagement.
Dr. Andrea Rissing – ASU Farm Speaker Series
Join us for a special session of ASU Farm’s Speaker Series featuring Dr. Andrea Rissing from Arizona State University. Dr. Rissing explores the emergence of small-scale, agroecological farms within the U.S. Corn Belt and how these systems challenge and interact with industrial agriculture. Her work highlights the social, economic, and environmental forces shaping agricultural futures.
Date, Time & Location
April 24th, 2026
2:00PM - 3:00PM