UC Davis student organic farm: Davis, CA

Our last stop was the student organic farm at the University of California Davis. This is the largest farm we visited with many different programs, though we only saw the 5 acre Market Garden and the Children's Educational Garden. We met up with Raul Adamchak (coauthor of the book Tomorrow's Table) and Damian Parr (a UC Davis PhD candidate who's dissertation is about student farms). We got a chance to talk to students and harvest produce for the CSA the farm runs. The overall system of the UC Davis farm is based on paid faculty who act as project managers while students are guided in practical hands-on skills.


Jeana and Brooke helping to prepare produce baskets for the CSA members.





















Jeana picking cherries in the Children's garden.


Raul speaking to Gabe and student members of the farm about why the corn is so small.

A group photo with Damian.


Damian has spent a lot of time looking at the organization of many different student farms all over the country. His dissertation has to do with the rise of student farms and what they can do for the students involved in them. We had a nice talk with him about our farm and other farms on the same path. Since we are rather new and not sure exactly how we want to run our farm, or even what organizational options are available, his knowledge was very helpful and greatly appreciated. One of the main points we focused on was that it is important for the students themselves to be the ones to make big decisions regarding the farm, and if faculty are present (paid or otherwise), to not let too much power be given to them. The farms that follow this type model have achieved great things and the students involved felt they had a very worthwhile experience being part of the farm.