Program Highlights
Although the farm food program is not USDA Certified Organic, it uses techniques that are consistent with the principles of organic gardening. We use no herbicides, instead favoring the time-honored and labor-intensive tradition of manual weeding. When needed, more productive, gas-powered handheld tillers are used sparingly. Organic fertilizers are used as alternatives to traditional quick-release chemical fertilizers and instead of chemical insecticides, bio-controls such as predatory insects and plant derived solutions are employed for pest control as well as pest population monitoring systems.
It is still a young program with room to grow, but we endeavor to work with nature to produce healthy, fresh produce for our dining facilities. In our outdoor planting areas, we deal with the ever-present pest pressure from deer, rabbits and other would-be crop thieves with the use of deer fencing and an organic repellant made primarily from garlic and putrescent egg solids known as Liquid Fence.
Future Goals
For our indoor growing areas, we are constantly making improvements to our irrigation system. Our growing tables are currently being outfitted with a variety of water-delivering systems that operate on timers which help to control and limit the wastes associated with overhead hand watering. We have also expanded the use of our existing rainwater harvesting system with the goal of collecting and using all of the rainwater from our greenhouse gutter system.
Besides continuing to increase the size and scope of food production to supply an even greater percentage of the food consumed on campus, we hope to branch out into other areas. Starting this year, we have begun the farm’s first CSA program and have started to supply food to the Montessori High School on Magnolia Ave. near campus. We are currently underway to produce oyster mushrooms by the end of this year and have already begun replacing some of our seasonal crop areas with permanent installations of currant and blueberry bushes for many years of future production. We are also working with the Engineers Without Borders to install a hydroponic growing system in the area that was previously used to rear young chicks.
I went to the farm this November. It is so beautiful! The clear blue sky, the tall trees surrounding the homey houses, the smell of fresh earth and the delicious-looking vegetables growing in the gardens.
I loved everything about it! I met a lot of new people there and it was great fun working in the gardens. The whole experience was interesting and educational, since I learned a lot about plants also. I would definitely do that again if I have the chance!
Han Xu, Case student