Growing Urban Ag. Newsletter - January 2026
Harvesting Knowledge: Student Farm 2025 Year Review
Student Engagement & Community Impact
40+
On – Farm Volunteers
OSU Students & Community Members
700+
Pounds of Produce Donated
Buckeye Food Alliance & All Peoples Fresh Market
Volunteers from across Ohio State’s campus contributed to the efforts of the Student Farm while learning hands-on transferable skills related to vegetable production. Through a developing partnership with the Buckeye Food Alliance, volunteers contributed directly to a more foodsecure Ohio State campus community.
Food Production Building off the 2024 production season, the Student Farm produced over 1,500 pounds of produce throughout the 2025 summer growing season. Additionally, farm production included a variety of cut flowers and the reintroduction of fall crops. Summer crops included orange bell peppers, jalapeno peppers, lunchbox peppers, tomatoes, onions and garlic, while fall crops included kale, kohlrabi, carrots, beets, radishes, celery, and sugar snap peas.
800+
Pounds of Peppers Harvested
600+
Pounds of Tomatoes Harvested
Production Partners:
150+
Pounds of Onions Harvested Questions about the newsletter? Contact us Annika Anderson, Student Farm Production Coordinator| anderson.4111@osu.edu Fernanda Krupek, Urban Food System Extension Specialist | krupek.1@osu.edu
10+
Additional Crop Varieties Harvested
@studentfarmosu
CFAES provides research and related educational programs to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis. For more information, visit cfaesdiversity.osu.edu. For an accessible format of this publication, visit cfaes.osu.edu/accessibility.
Research & Innovation Insect Upcycling on Urban Farms to Increase Resource-Use Efficiency - Project Leaders: Dr. Fernanda Krupek and Peri Forbes. This project aims to optimize organic waste recapture in urban centers through the integration of insect-based composting with the Black Soldier Fly (BSF) in the north central region. In collaboration with 15 urban farms, this project will tackle implementation hurdles and map resource recovery and creation. Sponsor: USDA-SARE Award #LNC24-502.
Students Agri-Food & Farming Systems Background & Career Thinking Study - Project Leaders: Dr. Fernanda Krupek and Annika Anderson – Project Contributors: Cassian Filbrun and Tatum Lonack. This study is exploring Student Farm (SF) Programs as a hands-on training source to support accessible and impactful agri-food systems education. Particularly focused on first-generation and transfer students from urban and suburban populations. Sponsor: Ohio State University Student Academic Success Research Grant. CSA Reintroduction Trial - Project Leaders: Dr. Fernanda Krupek, Annika Anderson. In conjunction with the CSA-oriented research listed below, the Student Farm reintroduced a produce share program. Department of Horticulture and Crop Science (HCS) faculty and staff had the opportunity to purchase a “share” of produce, which provided them with varying seasonal produce over a four-week period. Keep an eye out for updates on this program in the coming production seasons! OSU Student Farm CSA Seed-to-Sale Support - Project Leaders: Sarah Hoak, Zayd Barakat, Kunj Pandya, Ryan Donahue, Tyler Kahl. Through the Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) capstone course ENR 4567: Assessing Sustainability: Project Experience, this study provided an analysis of various Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) models to support the OSU Student Farms’ creation of a community-serving produce distribution program. Project results culminate with a published written report and poster presentation.
Figure above: Average produce preferences of survey respondents (1-10 scale, with 1 being least preferred and 10 being most preferred). Number of survey respondents (n) = 109.
@studentfarmosu
Research & Innovation Cont. Feasibility of Sunchokes in the Food Industry - Project Leaders: Dr. Florence Sessoms and Alison Bateman. In its’ second year, this research housed at the Student Farm continues to evaluate and analyze sunchoke crop performance and potential in the food industry (pictured left). Sponsor: Ohio State Sustainability Institute. Sustaining Urban Soil Health: Cover Crops and Compost Management in High and Low Tunnel - Project Leaders: Dr. Fernanda Krupek, Amy Hurst: In its’ second year, this research housed at the Student Farm continues to determine the impacts of cover crop, green mulch, and compost utilization in high and low tunnel settings (pictured right). Sponsor: Ohio State Sustainability Institute.
Support Spotlights
Urban Food Innovations Team
Volunteer Contributions
Throughout the year, volunteers support the farms success in all aspects. Weekly activities include planting, weeding, harvesting, and more on a season dependent basis. This continued involvement allows for knowledge exchange and experiential learning through hands on activities.
“I think that the ability to meet such a wide range of people has been the most beneficial. Students from all sorts of backgrounds find a united interest and are able to share their knowledge.” - Jaci Wentz (Volunteer)
Get involved!
Help the Student Farm make further innovations – contribute here: Thanks for your support!
Pictured from left: Dr. Fernanda Krupek, Peri Forbes, Rommel Munoz, Israel Acham, Amy Hurst, David Torres, and Annika Anderson.
To learn more about upcoming activities and ways to engage use this form:
@studentfarmosu
Urban Farm Education Field Day Cohosted by the Student Farm and Urban Ag. Extension Team
50+
Attendees
Growers, OSU employees and students, and more
Attendee Distribution: Other (non-profit organization, K-12 educator, high school student, food pantry employees 26%
6
Presentation Topics
Vegetable crop management practices, Technology utilization and more
This inaugural event brought together growers,
Grower students, staff, and faculty to share research 38% and innovations presented by OSU researchers
OSU Student 11% OSU Employee 25%
and extension educators. Attendees explored a variety of topics including robotic weeding technology, low tunnels for season extension & insect exclusion, and USDA funding support. A U-pick activity encouraged attendees to harvest and take-home fresh produce.
On-Farm Coursework HCS 2307: Sustainable Agriculture Practical Experience - Course Instructor: Dr. Jason Hollick This course provides students the opportunity to learn seed to sale skills at a small-scale vegetable production level. Students grow a variety of fall crops throughout the semester, culminating with a mock farmers market presented to the HCS Department.
HCS 2306/5306: Sustainable Vegetable Production Practicum: Planning, Growing, and Marketing - Course Instructor: Dr. Fernanda Krupek This course introduces students to the intricacies of smallscale vegetable production, including both instructional coursework and hands-on application of learned material.
Thank you to the 2025 Student Farm Donors! We cannot express enough gratitude for the contributions of community members to the efforts of the Student Farm!
@studentfarmosu