Lessons learned in Season 1 from the Student Organic Farm

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Lessons learned in Season 1 from the Student
Organic Farm

• Cornercopia Student Organic Farm
• WUSA Presentation
• December 7th 2005
• Part 2

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Crops Farm Management

• Continuous Cover System /
• Green Lands, Blue Waters ethic
• Cover crops
• Companion Plantings
• Perennial Guilds
• No Spraying

• Guiding Principle The student farm through its
  operation will grow, harvest and market a
  diversity of crops using sustainable organic
  practices that utilize local resources, reflect
  natural ecosystems and improve the quality of the
  farmland.

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Research

• 13 Student interns (9 undergraduate,
  4 graduate students) hired, each with an
  individual research projects
• Funding for interns provided by 2 SARE grants,
  and the Johnson Undergraduate Research Endowment

• Guiding Principles The student farm will
  encourage students to implement, monitor, and
  evaluate innovative and sustainable organic
  farming practices.

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2005 Intern Research Projects

• David Campbell, Environmental Sciences
• Cucurbit Pest Investigation Keyhole Block
• Joel Bradley, Political Science
• Cut Flower Production
• Deborah Garrido, Nutrition (grad student)
• Cornercopia's Wild Salad Mix
• Ben Jordan, Computer Science
• Mushroom Production Monoculture Block
• Ravi Raju, Public Affairs (grad student)
• Marketing
• Jesse Sadowsky, Environmental Horticulture
• Cover Crops and Green Manures Monoculture Block
  
• Peter Gillitzer, Environment and Natural
  Resources
• Grape Establishment Jeavon's Polyculture Block

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2005 Intern Research Projects

• Meagan Keefe, Natural Resources Science and
  Management (grad student)
• Perennial guild plantings
• Neal Bauer, Biosystems and Agricultural
  Engineering
• Buffer zone planning Companion block
• Rachael Dettman, Applied Economics (grad student)
• Organic certification
• Angela Haugen, Plant Biology
• Education and outreach
• Laura Freund, Environmental Horticulture
• Sustainable landscapes Monoculture block
• Jared Ashling, Environmental Horticulture
• Farm management

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Outreach Education

• Field Days
• U Day Camp Program
• STARS Program
• Agriculture and Food Sciences Academy

• Guiding Principle The student farm utilizes and
  teaches sustainable organic farming practices to
  students, faculty and community members. It will
  serve as a gathering place for interdisciplinary
  learning communities and a resource for extension
  in sustainable organic agriculture."

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Market Potential

• MPLS Campus Farmers Market (U
  Plan Wellness Project)
• Average sales at MPLS Campus Wednesdays Market
  600
• Average Sales at Tuesdays MPLS Campus Market
  Extension 375

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Market Potential

• St. Paul Campus Farm Stand
• St. Paul Campus Weekly Stand 30-100

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Market Potential

• St. Paul Campus Office Deliveries
• Average Weekly Sales from Office Deliveries
  50-200

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Market Potential

• Special Events
• ACGA Conference
• SECIA Tomato Tasting Contest
• St. Paul Campus Fall Fest

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Market Potential

• Restaurants (Muffaletta, Mims Cafe 421)
• Co-ops (North Country Hampden)
• Student Housing Co-op
• School Districts (Hopkins St. Paul)

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Fruits of our Labor

• Season Total 8,658

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Partnerships

• Internship Co-hosts 2005
• Ecological Gardens
• CINRAM
• Dream for Wild Health
• Minnesota Crop Improvement Association
• Green Lands, Blue Waters (Funding Source)

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Partnerships

• Provides Supplies Expertise
• TRE Nursery supplied with Trellising materials
  woody plants
• MN Horticultural Society member of MN Green
  Program supplied many, many packages of seeds
• Woodland Wisdoms supplied with extra produce on
  occasion
• PIERE (Presidential Initiative on the Environment
  and Renewable Energy) supplied us with
  biodegradable bags made from corn

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Partnerships

• Provided Volunteers Educational Outreach
  Opportunities
• Agriculture Food Science Academy
• Student Farm Network

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Partnerships

• Partners for Special Events
• Green Institute American Community Garden
  Association Conference Green Tomato Cook-off
• SECIA (South East Como Improvement Association)
  Tomato Tasting Contest Fall Festival
• U of M Alumni Association Fall Fest on the St.
  Paul Campus

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Partnerships

• Partnerships explored but unrealized as of yet
• Bell Museum
• Display Trial Gardens
• Minnesota Food Association
• Minnesota Department of Agriculture
• Minnesota Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association

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Press

• Articles in
• Sustainable Agriculture Newsletter
• MN Daily (Reprinted in Star Trib )
• COAFES News
• ACGA Newsletter
• New Farm Website

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Fall 2005

• HECUA intern Trevor Huggins
• Carlson Students in Non-profit Management Class
  take on End of the Season Market Analysis

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Beautiful U Day

• Grant application Submitted for Beautiful U Day
  Perennial Guild Planting Event Spring 2006

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Student Farm Planning, Growing Marketing Class
Spring 2006

• Student Organic Farm Planning, Growing
  Marketing.pdf

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Questions?