History
The Student Organic Farm is a student initiated
project. In 1999, a group of students wanted to have a place to
apply some of the things they were learning in classes; to learn
things they were not getting in classes; to farm organically and
to get their hands dirty with some first hand farming experience.
At the same time, Horticulture Professor, Dr. John Biernbaum began
researching possibilities for 4-season farming in Michigan, or
growing vegetables year round in unheated hoop houses. The marriage
of these two projects became inevitable as the year round farming
provided opportunities for students to engage in farming during
the main part of the academic year (September to May) when most
students are taking classes.
With leadership from John, the original core
group of students built 3 additional passive solar greenhouses
at the “farm” and in the Spring of 2002 began their
first season of production. The students were interested in following
the CSA- Community Supported Agriculture- model and had produce
year round to provide to the membership. With cold storage and
the hoophouses, the SOF became the first, year round CSA in Michigan,
and only one of a few in the entire country. The CSA currently
serves over 50 weekly shares.
From the beginning, the aim of the farm was
to provide a place where students could come and volunteer, work,
visit, and have input on the development of the land and farm.
Due to the vision and hard work of many the farm has flourished.
Over the last 6 years, the farm has developed into a place where
many different groups have access to participating in the growing
of organic food while creating learning opportunities. As the
farm developed, it became clear that many students wanted the
farm to offer a more formal approach to learning about organic
farming. The Organic Farming Certificate Program is a product
and evolution of the ideas and vision of the original group of
students and faculty who started the farm and all those who have
come since then.
