Daniel Harvey: Changing the World with Sustainable Farming

Sustainable Living student Daniel Harvey

Daniel Harvey grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, among the farms of America’s heartland and worked on several large scale and industrial family farms. After high school, he spent eight years playing drums, touring and recording with various underground punk rock bands. He has always been interested in an ecological, earth-friendly approach to agriculture, so when he heard about MIU’s Sustainable Living program he applied.

“Sustainability is such a deep concept here at MIU,” said Daniel. “I had never been exposed to that growing up. Once I came here, my entire paradigm shifted.” Daniel came to MIU in January 2013 and soon began working on the MIU Organic Farm as his work-study position, doing seed propagation, maintenance, and supervising other students.

After taking courses in organic and biodynamic agriculture as well as soil biology at MIU, he decided to combine those subjects with sustainable business and create an individualized major in agro-ecology and sustainability. For his senior research project, he is planning to survey 50 biodynamic farms in the US to find out why they adopted the biodynamic method.

Visiting Brown’s Ranch in North Dakota, which uses regenerative agriculture practices

“Daniel exerts himself sincerely and wholeheartedly with tremendous organic integrity,” said Dr. A. Thimmaiah, professor of Sustainable Living. “Tepidity has not crept into his personality; he enjoys whatever he does.”

This past summer Daniel did an internship at Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture in New York, where he worked on all aspects of food production and also shadowed the farm manager. This experience planted a seed for Daniel to someday create a sustainable farm, hotel, and education center where visitors can learn about organic gardening, cooking, and self-development.

Daniel learned the TM technique when he arrived on campus and immediately became interested in the TM-Sidhi program, which he completed at the end of his first year. “TM has given me incredible comfort in exploring areas of myself and my education,” he said. “It broadened my vision about my future goals, wanting to influence and change the world.”