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White Oak Pastures

Deep in the southwest corner of the state, maybe where you’d least expect it, you’ll find Georgia’s biggest certified organic farm. White Oak Pastures is a fifth-generation family-owned farm established in 1866, but “born on the internet.” In addition to Teachable Moments about sustainable agriculture, monocultural versus polycultural farming, and the Serengeti Plains Rotational Grazing Model, you’ll want to watch the owners, Will and Jenni Harris, test themselves against the Fast Forward Meat-O-Meter!

White Oak Pastures

From Fast Forward, Coastal Plain
White Oak Pastures

Deep in the southwest corner of the state, maybe where you’d least expect it, you’ll find Georgia’s biggest certified organic farm. White Oak Pastures is a fifth-generation family-owned farm established in 1866, but “born on the internet.” In addition to Teachable Moments about sustainable agriculture, monocultural versus polycultural farming, and the Serengeti Plains Rotational Grazing Model, you’ll want to watch the owners, Will and Jenni Harris, test themselves against the Fast Forward Meat-O-Meter!

Segment Extras

From the Fast Forward episode: White Oak Pastures

Teachable Moment: Monocultural and Polycultural Farming

From the Fast Forward episode: White Oak Pastures

Teachable Moment: Serengeti Plains Rotational Grazing Model

From the Fast Forward episode: White Oak Pastures

Teachable Moment: Sustainable Agriculture

Learn why they like to let chickens and cows just be themselves.

Launchpad: White Oak Pastures

Science

SEV3.a

Analyze and interpret data to communicate information on the origin and consumption of renewable forms of energy (wind, solar, geothermal, biofuel, and tidal) and non-renewable energy sources (fossil fuels and nuclear energy).

SEV4.a

Construct and revise a claim based on evidence on the effects of human activities on natural resources.

  • Human Activities
    • Agriculture
    • Forestry
    • Ranching
    • Mining
    • Urbanization
    • Fishing
    • Water use
    • Pollution
    • Desalination
    • Waste water treatment
  • Natural Resources
    • Land
    • Water
    • Air
    • Organisms
SEV4.c

Construct an argument to evaluate how human population growth affects food demand and food supply (GMOs, monocultures, desertification, Green Revolution).

Social Studies

SSWG5.a

Describe how and why agricultural techniques and technology have changed over time (e.g., irrigation, crop rotation, green revolution, and GMO's).

SSWG5.c

Analyze the economic, political and environmental impacts associated with industrialization and natural resource management around the world (e.g., fracking, strip mining, building of dams and reservoirs, deforestation, sustainable development, and renewable vs. non renewable resources).

1. How could a farm use social media to grow its business?

2. Why do their farmers believe polycultural farming is better than a monocultural model?

3. Many farms believe that allowing their animals larger areas to graze is better than keeping them in cages. Why do you think they believe that?

PBSLRM: WGBH - Can Organic Farms and Mosquito Control Co-Exist?

PBSLRM: The Botany of desire - Edible Apples and Monoculture  

PBSLRM: WGBH - City Farm

Organic: grown or made without the use of artificial chemicals

Sustainable: involving methods that do not completely use up or destroy natural resources

Anaerobe: bacteria that live without oxygen

Photovoltaic: a method for generating electric power by using solar cells to convert energy from the sun into a flow of electrons

Inventory: a complete list of the things that are in a place

Serengeti: region of savannah (woodlands and grasslands) located in Eastern Africa

Ruminants: an animal (such as a cow or sheep) that has more than one stomach and that swallows food and then brings it back up again to continue chewing it

Mono-culture: an agricultural term used to describe the planting of a single species or crop

Fast Forward Episodes

Coastal Plain

Covering approximately 60 percent of the state, the Coastal Plain is the largest region in Georgia. The inner coastal plain supports most of the agricultural production in the state; peanuts, peaches, and Vidalia onions are grown here. The outer coastal plain is dominated by pine forests and is home to Savannah and the Okefenokee Swamp. Because the outer coastal plain includes Georgia's connection to the Atlantic Ocean, economic activities include tourism, shipping and logistics, and seafood production.

We’re in Augusta to learn about careers in the medical field.

Augusta University

It’s a little known fact that Georgia farms once grew olives. It was back in the 1800’s...

Georgia Olive Farms

The Georgia Ports Authority has a job for just about any interest.

Georgia Ports Authority

All animals should have it as good as the patients at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center.

Georgia Sea Turtle Center

VIP tour of select parts of Gulfstream.

Gulfstream Aerospace

The film and television industry is much closer. In fact it’s right here in Georgia...

Meddin Studios

Despite what you see in cartoons, not all Park Rangers say “Hey, Boo Boo!”

Skidaway Island State Park

White Oak Pastures is a 5th-generation family-owned farm established in 1866.

White Oak Pastures

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