December 10, 2022

LaFarm Annual Report 2021

2021 marked many firsts for LaFarm: our first year collaborating with The Landis Center to host 6 first-year students for 3-days of service learning during Pre-Service Orientation Program; our first year hosting an on-campus day of service in collaboration with Landis and SEES, LaFarmapalooza, with over 70 volunteers passing through LaFarm on one stunning Saturday; the first year that the Environmental Studies and Science Programs offered green cords to our graduating seniors in recognition of their contributions on-campus in sustainability, food and farm, and environmental stewardship.

2021 was our first season growing in our high tunnel which allowed us to harvest lettuces, spinach, arugula, and carrots for our dining halls earlier than ever before, with deliveries starting up in late April and our on-farm pick-ups beginning in late May.  Strawberry season was mind-blowingly & mouth-wateringly delicious, with 886 pounds of perfectly-ripe strawberries picked and sold, though, if we’re being honest, the real number might be double this for all the berries our crew–and, er, farm manager–may or may not have consumed in the field.  

Our on-campus market returned, our Orientation Leaders came back to LaFarm for our favorite day of the year (the most energetic winter squash harvest any farm has seen), and our farm students continued to bring their love and passion for food, soil, and justice to their life on-farm and in-the-classroom. 

Thanks for being part of LaFarm, from seed to plate, it has been a remarkable delight to farm with you.  Big changes coming in 2022!  

Your Farm Manager, Lisa

 

We are Out Standing in our Field!  By the Numbers:

  • A record-breaking 81 on-farm community and volunteer events and opportunities for Lafayette students to experience food production first-hand
  • 8 on-line or on-farm partnerships with academic courses
  • 2,675 student hours working and learning on-the-farm
  • 11% increase in our produce production from 2020, with 17,312 total pounds harvested
  • 1st on-farm visit with our Together from Application to Graduation Scholars
  • 6 POSP students engaged in Service Learning and Civic Engagement during LaFarm’s First EVER Pre-Service Orientation Program
  • 1% increase in Soil Organic Matter since 2019
  • 3 individual 6 inch rain storms within 21 days of each other led to wet fields and wet feet

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