The Farm Archives

While crops rest in winter, student farmers at The Farm at SOU are tackling personal research projects that build research and leadership skills. Each student collaborates with farm leadership to develop assessments, manuals and guides on topics ranging from agricultural techniques to harvest protocols to pest management.

Why dedicate an entire term to these projects? What makes them so valuable for student development? Even when winter slows outdoor operations, continual professional development is an important aspect of the undergraduate experience. As a student-led farm, it’s important to research agricultural best practices, synthesize information and share knowledge with one another before planting season begins.

Regularly evaluating and improving organizational processes is a part of every successful organization, especially for building a culture of continuous learning and adaptability in southern Oregon’s changing agricultural landscape. Shifting climate patterns and evolving market demands require farms like SOU’s to stay flexible and innovative in operations. Students take ownership of operations, addressing genuine needs and exploring their career interests.

By spring, students will have tangible portfolios showing what they’ve accomplished: field guides they designed, training videos they produced and schedules they created. More important, they’re gaining transferable skills in research, teaching and problem-solving. Their personal research projects represent professional development through real responsibility. Students leave with more than agricultural knowledge, by gaining confidence in their ability to lead, create and solve complex problems in any field they choose.

Curious about how you can support southern Oregon’ s agricultural legacy through hands-on learning? Consider buying local from the Summer CSA program at The Farm, at SOU. To learn more about the CSA, check out the farm’s website at farm.sou.edu.

Story by Sundar Archana, graduate assistant and education coordinator at The Farm at SOU

The Farm at SOU has begun its 2022 growing season, with more than 40 different crops planted, the resumption of a popular community agriculture program and the introduction of a new one.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares are again available for participants who wish to receive weekly produce boxes and, for the first time, The Farm is growing and preparing to sell garden starts. Both programs are open to community members, regardless of their relationship with SOU.

The Farm is a community-based and student-powered operation, located near the SOU campus on North Walker Street. It provides learning opportunities for students and locally-grown food for SOU students, employees and local residents.

The CSA program, which enables subscribers to receive fresh produce from the farm each week, is expected to have crops ready to harvest and on people’s tables by mid-May and continue into September. Members of the CSA will get a share of a wide variety of fruits and vegetables grown on the Farm, from corn and lettuce to peaches and apples. Those who would like to subscribe for shares of The Farm’s products can follow this link to join the CSA program.

“We farmers at SOU are passionate about having people eat good food,” said Vincent Smith, Division Director for SOU’s Division of Business, Communication and the Environment, and The Farm’s primary overseer.

One of The Farm’s goals has been to promote self-sustaining agriculture in the community, which has led this year to the sale of plant starts for use in home gardens. All plants sold will be fully mature nursery starts, ready to plant upon purchasing. Plant starts are available for purchase here.

Please enjoy this short video featuring a tour of The Farm and its crops by Vincent Smith and SOU environmental science graduate student Elizabeth Mackey.

Learn more about the Farm here.

Tag Archive for: The Farm

Winter workshops: student-led learning at The Farm

The Farm at SOU is gearing up for the 2022 growing season