THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, JUNE 25, 2012
COMMUNITY
PAGE 15
Student farm provides room to grow
VICTORIA PITCHER
vpitcher@kansan.com
Ask around at the University student farm and the growers will tell you it's about the connection to their food.
"I just think it's important that people go back to knowing where their food comes from," said Julia Yang, a sophomore from Manhattan. Yang said it's exciting to eat something that she grew from a simple seed.
Just two years ago, the student farm, located in north Lawrence near
the municipal airport, was a mere five people working on one small plot of land. Since then, the student farm has expanded into 50 plots, and it is continuing to flourish.
"We've grown a lot," said Kim Scherman, a recent graduate from Eudora and the student farm facilitator. Scherman estimates about 100 students, faculty and staff are involved with the farm.
The student farm was originally a capstone project idea, but Scherman planted the farm and fostered it to what it is today. The student farm has
50 rectangular plots of land that measure 4 feet by 32 feet. Those who want to participate can purchase a plot for $30 by contacting farming officers at kufarming@gmail.com. At the end of the season, $20 is refundable and $10 is kept to help pay for water.
This is some students' first time growing their own food.
"I'm learning a lot still." Yang said, who is in her first growing season with the student farm. Yang has already produced kale and is starting to see tomatoes. "I'm super excited about my tomatoes."
This season has been unusually hot and dry, which has made it more difficult for first time growers.
"There was a drought for quite a while," said Rebecca Crook, a senior from Kansas City, Kan. "It pretty much affected everybody." Cook said they had to water the plants more often because they came close to dying.
Cook didn't know much about growing plants when she first started, but she has learned a lot by helping out with the community plot.
The community plot runs between the student plots, and anyone who
works on the plots can take food from it. A committee of people who share the farming responsibilities manage the plot.
The community plot is less intimidating than owning your own plot if you're just getting started, like Cook.
"It's not as intimidating as it seems if you don't really know what you are doing." Cook said.
The student farm has a potluck once a month, and plans for a fundraising dinner are in the works.
—Edited by Megan Hinman
VICTORIA PITCHER/KANSAN
Julia Yang, a sophomore from Manhattan, tends to her plot at the student farm. So far this season she has successfully grown kale and tomatoes.
VICTORIA PITCHER/KANSAN
Kim Scherman, a recent graduate from Eudora, and Julia Yang enjoy a one of the student farm's monthly potluck dinners Friday night.