Still Growing

What’s been going on at the ACSF? Right now everything in the garden is growing and flowering. Cody built trellises to support the pole beans and peas and Kaitlyn constructed more tomato plant cages. In order to help with the increased water demand of our bigger plants, we have installed a gravity irrigation system that collects water from the shed roof inside an old salt barrel.

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Lately we have been focusing on how to integrate the Albion College Student Farm into Albion’s theme year program. Todd Tekiele is the director of this year’s theme, sustainability. So far we have discussed having a stand at the Albion Farmers Market (August 26th), having a waste-free picnic, starting a series of compost piles, and selling our produce to Albion Dining Services.

Also, community member Holly Miller contacted us asking about what the ACSF was all about, and if we would be interested in hosting field trips for children from the local schools. This could be a great opportunity promoting food and health awareness in our local schools.

Harvest is right around the corner! Our plants keep growing, just like the ideas of the ACSF in the community.

Plowed and Planted

Over the last week we have been working hard to get our roots in the ground. Our field had been unused for many years and was covered in thick sod. To prepare the ground for seeding we had local farmer Brian Obert use his tractor to do a deep-till. We then raked out as much remaining root mass and sod as we could.
The next step was to fertilize; luckily our friends in the field next door helped us out:



(Actually) The Albion College Equestrian Center allowed us to use some of their composted manure. Kaitlyn and I spread the manure over our field before local artist Ken Shenstone mixed it in with his roto-tiller. Thanks Again Ken!



We then started to hoe rows and sink seeds according to the field plan Kaitlyn and I came up with. The Jolly Green Junction, a fantastic farm supply store in Albion, donated the seeds!
With the help of some great volunteers and a few solid days of planting, The Albion College Student Farm is starting to take shape!




Kaitlyn and our volunteers Holly and Dominique. Thanks guys!


Dominique and I transplanting broccoli.

This kind of community gardening is exactly what the ACSF hopes to promote.
Stay tuned! We're always growing.

Our Progress so Far

Our joint internship with the Albion College Grounds Dept. and the Center for Sustainability and the Environment began on May 10th, 2010. The conditions of our internship are that we must work 20 hours/week for the Grounds Dept., and (at least) 20 hours/week for the ACSF. This allows us to use the heavy machinery owned by Grounds, and provides time for our ongoing research.
The first thing we did was procure a piece of land in Albion that was not poisoned by excess lead (no small feat). The Equestrain center donated this fitting plot, which is about 2 acres, located just southwest of Belmont Manor.
The next step was clearing it out! We decided on a division of the land to cultivate this year, and then dealt with the large scrap metal, fences, and small trees standing in our way.
Meanwhile, we cleaned out and re-planted the small garden next to the E-house with corn and beans. These were planted from seed, and seem to be doing well:



Also, we've started some salad vegatables from seed in Albion's John S. Ludington Greenhouse, take a look:



On a daily basis we are watering, weeding, and waiting for our plants to grow; we are also continuing our research on pragmatic, sustainable, and ecological agriculture.

We have big plans for the ACSF, keep checking this blog for news and information (and volunteers are always welcome)!

Mission Statement

The mission of the Albion College Student Farm is to cultivate a student-organized, all natural, sustainable, and aesthetically pleasing produce garden for the benefit of students, faculty, and community members of all ages. We will strive to promote gardening as an uplifting, healthful, environmentally friendly activity; to offer those interested the opportunity to experiment with organic gardening practices; to raise awareness about the role of a localized diet in reducing carbon footprint; to help ensure equal access to nutritious food in the Albion community by donating produce to local charities; and to encourage Albion residents, especially youth, to learn about and appreciate organic gardening and become more connected with their local food system.

This summer is ACSF's first, and two students (Kaitlyn Pospeich and Cody Yothers) will be breaking soil with help from the Albion College Grounds Dept., the Equestrian Center, and the Center for Sustainability and the Environment (formerly the E.I.)