In 2011, Vermont released its Farm to Plate Strategic Plan to provide a rationale and approach to increase economic development in Vermont's food and farm sector and improve access to healthy, local foods. Much of this work is to be done by a network of devoted individuals and organizations across the state, including the Farm to Plate Council in Bennington. In this course we will contribute to the statewide effort by conducting research on food and farm issues in the Bennington region. Students will learn methods for making systematic observations about food production, distribution, or consumption, interpreting the data collected, and documenting results. Students in the course will develop and undertake a group research project.