Researchers at the University of North Texas are transforming underused areas of campus into agricultural spaces. The USDA-funded Milpa Agricultural Placemaking Project (MAPP) draws on traditional Mexican and Central American farming techniques.

The initiative is named for an ancient agrarian practice that originated in present-day Mexico and Central America, says Michael Wise, associate professor and director of graduate studies in history at UNT.

“The milpa concept shows how small spaces can support agriculture and community needs,” Wise said in a news release, noting that practitioners of milpa historically cultivated crops in underutilized spaces in cities and villages, rather than in rural fields. 

Wise, who co-leads the project with Sandra Mendiola García, also an associate professor of history, describes UNT as an ideal place to put milpa into practice with plenty of unused space on campus and its own micro-climates.

Michael Wise, project lead and associate professor of history, distributes plants to UNT students at the MAPP seedling giveaway [Photo: UNT]

Cultivating crops and community

The Milpa project brings farming to the city, turning small plots into classrooms and community hubs. Students get hands-on experience while the public watches urban agriculture unfold.

Texas A&M’s Urban Agricultural Research Lab partners with the project to develop what works for campus farming and develop best practices that could be applied to other urban settings.

Students and faculty recently gave away free tomato and pepper seedlings on campus as part of the outreach.

MAPP combines open-concept planting with activities that bring food studies to life. The four-year initiative is funded by the USDA’s National Institute for Food and Agriculture.

“Our ultimate goal is establishing an edible landscape on the UNT campus,” Wise said. He added that the project’s research and course programs are building blocks toward that goal.

Expanding food studies and public access

The Texas A&M partnership also helps UNT expand its Food Studies Program, which combines social science, agriculture, and farm management. MAPP’s reach goes beyond campus—future plans include working with Denton community gardens, giving away seedlings at farmers markets and festivals, and creating a public seed library.

“We want to use our food studies expertise at UNT to connect with anyone interested in food and agriculture,” Wise said. He hopes the work sparks conversations with communities beyond campus.

Oral histories and shared spaces

One of MAPP’s signature efforts is the MAPP Oral History Collection, a multilingual database of interviews with community members involved in food and agriculture.

UNT said the collection serves as an archive and a tool for understanding local food needs and values.

Graduate student Amber Ada, a MAPP researcher and second-year master’s student in history, helped conduct interviews and distribute seedlings at the recent giveaway.

She wants the work to inspire students to think about shared spaces and how to use them fully.

“I’ve spoken with a lot of undergrads who are really interested in what we’re doing,” Ada said. 

Sofia Stevens-Garcia, a junior double-majoring in history and Spanish, joined MAPP as a research administrator and quickly found her passion extending beyond the classroom.

“I think it’s important that people understand the relationship between food and where it comes from,” Stevens-Garcia said. 

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