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== Studying humans needs and sustainability in land labs ==
[[File:Compost Rollers.jpg|alt=Compost rollers are used to cleanly produce rich, organic compost for sustainable gardens.  Food waste, veggie scraps, grass clippings, cardboard, biochar, leaves and other biomass are mixed together.  These inputs have varying levels of carbon and nitrogen which are required for producing compost.  Microbes and insects break down these inputs into a rich soil amendment to help fertilize plants sustainably.|thumb|Compost rollers are used to cleanly produce rich, organic compost for sustainable gardens.  Food waste, veggie scraps, grass clippings, cardboard, biochar, leaves and other biomass are mixed together.  These inputs have varying levels of carbon and nitrogen which are required for producing compost.  Microbes and insects break down these inputs into a rich soil amendment to help fertilize plants sustainably.]]
Learning to produce food, fiber and energy in sustainable ways is a tremendous opportunity for students of all ages within land labs.  Students can explore biomass energy, biogas fuels, solar energy, [[permaculture]], composting, organic gardening, and many other facets of sustainability through land labs.

By designing systems that mimic natural processes ([[biomimicry]]), we are able to produce food, fiber, and energy in more sustainable ways for local communities.  Numerous environmental and economic benefits exist to growing food locally and producing energy locally.  These biomimicry inspired systems are circular in nature.  Nothing is wasted, as the outputs of one [[circular system]] become the inputs of another.