More liberal arts students seeking an academic break, meaningful work or training and engagement in social change are headed to farms this summer. It’s a way to act on their growing enthusiasm for locally raised food, concerns over food safety and the environmental impact of conventional agriculture.

The New York Times reports that interest in summer farm work among college students has never been so high, according to dozens of farmers, university professors and people who coordinate agricultural apprenticeships. Katherine L. Adam, of the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service, says that 1,400 farms sought interns this year; that’s almost triple the number 2 years ago.

Stipends are generally modest, with room and board included. Academic credits may also be offered.

Find internship directories by state at organicvolunteers.com and attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/internships.