Location: WSU Wenatchee
Address: TFREC
1100 N. Western Ave.
Wenatchee, WA 98801
Phone: 509 663-8181 ext. 263
Email: mrostrom@wsu.edu

Areas of Interest

• Social Movements
• Global Agri-Food Systems
• Community Food Systems
• Sociology of Agriculture
• The Land-Grant System
• Sustainable Community Development
• Participatory Action Research

Education

• A.B. Biology/Anthropology, Harvard University, 1985
• M.S. Agriculture and Natural Resources Sociology, Cornell, 1991
• Ph.D. Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1997

Bio

Dr. Marcia Ostrom is the Director of the Small Farms Program, located in the Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources at Washington State University. The Small Farms Program is a statewide program created by the Washington State Legislature in 2000 to provide extension and research for small and mid-sized, family-owned farms and sustainable food systems. Areas of focus include farmer education on profitable farming and marketing strategies, participatory research and demonstration projects on innovative, ecologically-based farming techniques, and community food system development. The 40 member WSU Small Farms Team includes partners such as university specialists, county extension agents, farmer associations and non-profits, other universities and colleges, and various government agencies who work together to develop support networks for small, immigrant, and other limited-resource farmers. A statewide Small Farm Advisory Board provides input into program development. For more information and a calendar of events, see www.smallfarms.wsu.edu

Publications

Ostrom, Marcia and Douglas Jackson-Smith (2005) “Defining a Purpose: Agricultural Extension, Land Grant Research, and Diverse Farm Constituencies,” Journal of Sustainable Agriculture. 27(3):57–76.

Ostrom, Marcia (2005). ”Everyday Meanings of Local Food: Views from Home and Field,” Journal of the Community Development Society. 37(1):65–878.

Ostrom, Marcia (2005), “The Contribution of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) to Movements for Change in the Agri-Food System.” In Remaking the North American Food System, Clare Hinrichs and Tom Lyson (eds). University of Nebraska Press (In Press).

Ostrom, Marcia and Raymond Jussaume (2005), “Assessing the Significance of Direct Farmer-Consumer Linkages as a Change Strategy: Civic or Opportunistic?” in Remaking the North American Food System, Clare Hinrichs and Tom Lyson (eds). University of Nebraska Press (In Press).

Ostrom, Marcia (2005). “Small Farms: the Heart of Washington Agriculture,” CSANR Technical Report Series 2005-01-06, Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources, Washington State University.

Ostrom, Marcia (2005). “Washington Farmer Views on Environmental Policy,” CSANR Research Brief Series 2005-02-09, Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources, Washington State University.

Ostrom, Marcia (2005). “The Importance of Direct Markets for Washington Farmers,” CSANR Research Brief Series 2005-03-08, Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources, Washington State University.

Ostrom, Marcia (2005). “Consumer Food Purchasing: Interest in Local and Direct Markets,” CSANR Research Brief Series 2005-02-07, Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources, Washington State University.

Ostrom, Marcia; Hines Richard; and Rebecca Warren (2004) “The King County Food System Atlas,” CSANR Technical Report Series, Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources, Washington State University.

Ostrom, Marcia; Garrett, Steven; Qazi, Joan; and Rich Hines (2004) “The Chelan County Food System Atlas,” CSANR Technical Report Series, Washington State University.