SOU Receives Gift from Territorial Seed Company

(Ashland, Ore.) — The Southern Oregon University Center for Sustainability (CFS) recently received a major gift from Cottage Grove-based Territorial Seed Company. The gift of seeds from Territorial will make it possible for CFS to again provide low-cost fruits and vegetables to the SOU campus community in 2015.
The fruits and vegetables to be grown this year will be distributed at a weekly low-cost farm stand to SOU students, distributed to SOU Dining facilities, and sold to SOU faculty and staff through a CSA subscription program.
Territorial Seed Company has been generously providing advice and support to CFS since Territorial Owner and SOU alumnus Tom Johns visited the site for an opening reception last June. Thanks to the donation from Territorial Seed Company, and the donations of many others, CFS expects to grow its on-campus environmental programming this year.
CFS is currently working with the City of Ashland, Rogue Valley Farm to School, Ashland School District, and OSU Extension to develop the infrastructure and programming necessary to serve the region as a resource for sustainability education and sustainable business incubation.
The seeds donated by Territorial Seed Company include many exciting heirloom varieties, according to SOU Professor and CFS Faculty Director Vincent Smith. “The heirloom varieties we will grow this year were selected for their exceptional flavor and for their proven performance in our region,” he said.
SOU biology major and CFS Farm manager Jessica Harper stated, “I can’t wait to begin planting! We were able to choose a diverse and excellent variety of seeds for this season.”
About Southern Oregon University
Southern Oregon University provides outstanding student experiences, valued degrees, and successful graduates. SOU is known for excellence in faculty, intellectual creativity and rigor, quality and innovation in connected learning programs, and the educational benefits of its unique geographic location. SOU was the first university in Oregon—and one of the first in the nation—to offset 100 percent of its energy use with clean, renewable power, and it is the first university in the nation to balance 100% of its water consumption. Visit sou.edu.
About the SOU Center for Sustainability
The SOU Center for Sustainability is a living and learning laboratory for applied research and projects in sustainability. The Center serves as a community resource for sustainability education, fosters sustainable business development, promotes interconnectedness, and facilitates leadership training through thoughtful learning and practice. Visit sou.edu/sustainable/center-for-sustainability