On Wednesday the 20th, as a last minute addition to the trip, we decided to stop by Evergreen State College, a small liberal arts college nestled away in the crevices of Olympia, Washington. Although their curriculum differed greatly from our own, there was still much for us to learn from their unique practices.
A few of the key features we saw that we would like to integrate into our own program include: a work study program, paid staff for summer maintenance and a CSA program. Volunteers from the community regularly come on to the farm to teach workshops and lend their knowledge and guidance to help support to student farm. Workshops covered many important components of farm upkeep such as: fruit tree pruning, animal husbandry, composting or carpentry. One key lesson we learned from this farm that we can immediately put into action is that it may be better to go after funding for individual projects on the farm rather than ask for money without a specific use.
Using funds raised through on-campus produce sales and food sales to the campus cafeteria, the farm is able generate enough money to staff a full time farm managers and paid student interns.
Some of the unique and interesting student initiated projects at the farm included: biofuel processing station to run the farm tractors, a composting toilet, a large composting facility, beehives, ducks and a flock of 90 egg laying hens.
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