Solarpunk

Imagine for a moment that you live in a small farming community in rural California. Your community has a long history of growing the food that people from all over the world eat, and lately there have been more and more advances in renewable agriculture technology that make your work less cumbersome and more rewarding. For you, the farmer, this means that the sensors you use, the seeds from which you grow your crops, the tools and equipment that you maintain, and all technology available to you are all ethically (and equitably) produced and sourced. The development of sustainable technology, like what you use to grow the food that feeds the world, is made possible by advances in carbon-free energy like wind, solar, and fusion. Your job, as a farmer in our Solarpunk world, is to support and enrich both land and people. Throughout this article we will discuss the ways in which we, as cultivators and supporters of student experiences in rural communities, endeavor to bring Solarpunk to rural STEM education.