Natural Farm Training Center
The natural farm training center began in 2006 when a group of feral pigs were caught and fenced-in to clear a patch of land on an undeveloped, overgrown part of campus.
Why a Farm?
The hope was to develop a demonstration and training site for natural farming principles that could be taught to students and staff who would then teach others and thus multiply knowledge that could help people help themselves by growing nutritious food. A small staff began to implement principles learned from Korean Natural Farming [CAN WE GIVE A LINK] for vegetable production and animal care in a site with volcanic rock overlain by very shallow soil. Training has been an emphasis, and examples of building and maintaining healthy soil and growing crops and animals without synthetic chemicals (organic like) have gradually been developed. An aquaponics facility was added in 2009, and a food forest (demonstrating features of permaculture design) was added in 2012.
The Garden
Using raised beds for vegetable production we have about 200 ft sq of beds. We have grown many species in the garden but have refined the focus to crops needed in the campus cafeteria (lettuce, bok choy, kale, arugula, and mint).
Container Growing
Food Forest
Animals
IMO
Indigenous Micro-Organisms.
We work to grow bacteria, fungus, and nematodes, that work in a symbiotic relationship with the vegetables that we grow.
Feet Raised Beds
%
IMO
Acres
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Planting at the Training Resource Center
We harvest every week at the Natural Farm, this means we have to plant seeds every week, tend the bed just harvested, and plant our seedlings every week.