Student Farm at The Ohio State University-2024 Season Student and Community Engagement
20+
Undergraduate student volunteers
40+
Community volunteers
Upper Arlington MS and Urban Roots
The student farm welcomed volunteers from the university and other organizations to plant, maintain, and harvest produce throughout the growing season. Student Farm members engaged in multiple educational opportunities at local farms, nonprofit organizations, and more. The Student Farm was a featured tour location in the 2024 Urban Food Systems Symposium.
Food Distribution Partners
Food Production Peppers, tomatoes, and cut flowers were the Student Farm production focus during the 2024 season. Harvests were distributed to the various production partners from late July to early October.
570+
190+
50+
Pounds of Peppers Harvested
Pounds of Tomatoes Harvested
Green bell, orange bell, red bell, and jalapenos
Strawberry fields, cherry bomb, and plum regal
Bouquets of Flowers Harvested Zinnias, snapdragons, celosia, and gomphrena
org.osu.edu/studentfarm 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 Feasibility of Sunchokes in the Food Industry (Project Leaders: Dr. Florence Sessoms, Ian Lastoria Fischer)- This research project recognizes the nutritional significance of sunchokes, often regarded as a weed, and their potential contribution to the food industry. This research also analyzes the crop’s performance in phytomediation of contaminated soils in urban areas.
Climate-Smart Strategies for Ohio Urban Agriculture: Cover Crops and Compost in High and Low Tunnels (Project Leaders: Amy Hurst, Dr. Fernanda Krupek) - This research project studies impacts of cover crops, green mulch, and compost in high and low tunnels on soil health and yield in a melon/kale rotation in an Ohio urban farm setting.
Innovations
This summer the Student Farm purchased a fertigator to aid in the fertilization needs of the produce plot, as well as an electrical conductivity meter to measure fertilizer concentration. The Student Farm was also able to perform maintenance and replace the battery on the two-wheel walk behind tractor, a key tool for market gardeners and urban farmers.
An undergraduate engineering student designed and built a side-wall ventilation system for the Student Farm’s high tunnel. This solar-powered prototype connects to a mobile app that allows user side-wall control from any location.
Get involved!
To learn more about upcoming activities and ways to engage use this form!
org.osu.edu/studentfarm
Help the Ohio State Student Farm make further innovations over the coming years – contribute using the QR code. Thanks for your support!