Student-Run Organic Garden Serves Up Produce

September 20, 2007

JY, a senior, and Caroline, an upper, tend the student-run organic garden on campus

Exeter's latest sustainability project – a student-run organic garden – is producing its first crops, after months of careful planning, planting and tending. The 25- by 50-foot organic garden was the brainchild of JY, a senior, who responded to a call for sustainability proposals. Inspired by his classes in environmental science and his eagerness to "learn more about how the food we consume everyday gets to our dinner table,"  JY wrote an 11-page proposal detailing the garden's objective, and defining needed resources, equipment and budget. "The educational lessons about labor, sustainability and environmental awareness that come from hands-on experience would be priceless to students," he wrote. Many others agreed. After reviewing the proposal, the Environmental Task Force (a group of 23 students, faculty and staff) gave the organic garden the go-ahead last spring.

"Most of us don't think about where our food comes from, and give little, if any, attention to who grows it, or how much time, energy and resources go into its production," says Jennifer Wilhelm, Sustainability Coordinator at Exeter. "While this project is small in scale, it has the potential to significantly increase our community's awareness of how food is grown, and to get people thinking about the bigger agricultural picture." Wilhelm predicts that the impact of the farm will grow over time as more students get involved.  "This garden is a step toward reducing our carbon footprint," she explains. "By producing our own food, we eliminate the need for transporting it across the country and the world."

Now in its initial phase, Wilhelm expects the garden to continue for many years and to expand in scope. Says JY, "I'm sure in a few years the garden will be much bigger, with many students volunteering and maybe even some animals. I hope it can also be used as a field classroom for biology or environmental science classes, or just a place to hang out for students."

The garden, located across from the track field, uses tried-and-true, chemical-free practices such as crop rotation, composting and natural biomass decomposition to maintain high soil fertility. Mobile greenhouses extend the growing season. The garden sports five crops: carrots, beans, corn, potatoes and squash. So far, it has delivered carrots, squash and beans to Exeter's executive chef, who serves the campus-grown produce alongside vegetables purchased from local farms.

The project was supported by the Niebling Fund, named after Richard F. Niebling '34, an English instructor at Exeter for more than three decades, and an early proponent of land conservation. Designed to promote student-initiated sustainability efforts, the fund has assisted a variety of initiatives, including: sustainable dining project, which brought local organic food to the dining halls; biodiesel project, which converted three large PEA vehicles to a mix of biofuel and diesel; and the placement of New Hampshire Moose license plates on all campus vehicles. The purchase of these conservation heritage plates supports conservation initiatives around the state. Last year, the ETF reviewed several student proposals for Niebling funding, including a system for harnessing power from gym equipment and converting the bus fleet to run on vegetable oil. Two received funds: the organic garden and a project to reduce paper waste in the mailroom.

During the year, more than 100 students contribute to sustainability projects through three organizations: Environmental Action Committee (EAC), Environmental Proctors, and Carbon Committee. Major projects include: the Green Cup Challenge (a 35-school competition designed to increase climate change awareness and decrease greenhouse gas emissions), Focus the Nation (a national, global warming campaign), the Green Flag Program (an environmental awards initiative targeting schools), recycling and composting.

For JY, there have been "quite a lot of green moments" during his years at Exeter. "Going to EAC and E-Proctor meetings has been great," he says. "I took environmental science classes for an entire year with Mr. Matlack, Mr. Janicki and Ms. Hobbie. These courses taught me about today's environmental issues, and have been my favorite courses at Exeter. Being on the Carbon Committee and having a chance to propose carbon-reduction goals in front of trustees was also a great experience."

Interested in learning more?
Read about Exeter's sustainability initiatives…
See Exeter's science department offerings…
Check out the vermicomposting project at the Harris Family Children's Center…
See how recent construction on Exeter's campus is going green…
Read about last year's graduating class, who pioneered many sustainability projects…