Pomona College Organic Farm Explained

The Pomona College Organic Farm is an organic campus farm on [1] of the southeast corner of Pomona College's campus in Claremont, California.[2] It is within Blanchard Park (more commonly known as "the Wash"). It was begun as an experimental permaculture project by a group of three friends in 1998,[3] and was institutionalized in 2006.

History

The farm was begun in 1998, when students began composting dining hall waste and planting crops in an unused portion of campus.[3] Masanobu Fukuoka's book The One Straw Revolution provided the initial inspiration. One student remained on campus to tend to the farm over the summer, but, according to the farm's website, only a single tomato grew.[3] Over the next few years, students from the "Gorilla Farming Club" worked to improve the nitrogen content of the soil and remove rocks.[3]

During this time, the farm developed a reputation as an activist space,[3] [4] with extensive marijuana smoking, squatting, and other exploits. This, combined with the farm's unofficial status, led to strained relations with the college's administration.[5] In 2002, students constructed an earth dome using Nader Khalili's superadobe designs, but the college demolished it at the start of the fall 2002 semester because of safety and permitting concerns.[3] In April 2003, plans began for a new, institutionally-approved Earth Dome,[3] which was completed in 2005. In May 2006, the farm and the college reached an agreement on rules for the farm, and it has since become institutionalized[6] and expanded to include the East Farm.[3] [7] [8]

Layout

The farm occupies of the far southeastern corner of Pomona College's campus, within the naturalistic portion of the campus known as "the Wash" (formally Blanchard Park[9]). It is split into two halves, separated by the college's hammer throw field.[10] The West Farm includes the superadobe Earth Dome, as well as a number of fruit trees, rock-lined student plots, an outdoor classroom, and a chicken coop.[11] The East Farm has a 162-square-foot greenhouse and is used to grow crops and compost waste.[12] A number of coast live oak trees dot the area.[13]

Operations

The farm is predominantly run by students.[14] It grows some of the food used in Pomona's dining halls, composts dining hall waste,[15] operates a food stand,[16] and facilitates a course on agriculture in the college's environmental analysis program.[17]

It also hosts a number of events, including an annual "FarmFest",[18] and provides a space for quiet retreat.

It is funded by proceeds from produce sales, the Associated Students of Pomona College, and the Environmental Analysis Department. Pomona alumnus Ronald Lee Fleming has also donated to the farm, funding a statue.[19]

Reception

A 2023 critique of campus farms in The Nation described the farm as "as visually appealing as it is functional" and highlighted its teaching function, but also questioned its non-native vegetation and water consumption.[20]

Further reading

External links

34.0953°N -117.7092°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Pomona College Organic Farm . Pomona College . 8 August 2020 . en . 26 August 2019 . 7 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200807043321/https://www.pomona.edu/farm . live .
  2. Book: Harris . Erin Mahoney . Visit California Farms: Your Guide to Farm Stays, Tours, and Hands-On Workshops. . 2016 . . Berkeley, California . 9780899977904 . 151.
  3. Web site: Farm Resources . Pomona College . 8 August 2020 . en . 26 August 2019 . 30 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200930062525/https://www.pomona.edu/farm/resources . live .
  4. Sherry . Cathy . Learning from the Dirt: Initiating university food gardens as a cross-disciplinary tertiary teaching tool . Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education . August 2022 . 25 . 2 . 199–217 . 10.1007/s42322-022-00100-6 . free.
  5. Enzminger . Peter . Down on the Farm . 5 August 2020 . Pomona College Magazine . Fall 2006 . 41 . 2 . Pomona College . https://web.archive.org/web/20080512180837/http://www.pomona.edu/Magazine/pcmfl06/DEtoday3.shtml . 12 May 2008.
  6. Web site: 2006 . Pomona College Timeline . Pomona College . 5 August 2020 . en . . 4 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210104150047/https://www.pomona.edu/timeline/2000s/2006 . live .
  7. News: Barboza . Tony . Pomona College considers organic farm's future . 3 November 2021 . . April 15, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071029153755/http://www.claremont-courier.com/archives/organic%20farm%20story%204.15.06.doc . October 29, 2007 . DOC . DOC.
  8. News: Barboza . Tony . Organic farm will stay put . 3 November 2021 . . April 26, 2006 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071031113132/http://www.claremont-courier.com/archives/farm%20follow-up%204.26.06.doc . October 31, 2007 . DOC . DOC.
  9. Web site: Campus Facilities . Pomona College Catalog . Pomona College . 2 August 2020 . 20 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210420011804/https://pomona.catalog.acalog.com/content.php?catoid=33&navoid=6714 . live .
  10. News: Orenstein . Natalie . Petition to Relocate Hammer Throw Field Draws Criticism . 5 August 2020 . . 21 April 2011 . 19 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200919092552/https://tsl.news/news110/ . live .
  11. News: Wax . Shelby . The Roots of Pomona College's Organic Farm . 5 August 2020 . . 4 November 2013 . 24 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210624071054/https://tsl.news/life-style3492/ . live .
  12. News: Hernandez . Cindy . Fine Feathered Friends . 45 . 2 . 7 August 2020 . Pomona College Magazine . Winter 2009 . Pomona College . 14 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210514184205/https://magazine.pomona.edu/wp-content/uploads/images/pdf/2009-winter.pdf . live .
  13. Tyack . Nicholas . Ralph Cornell and the 'College in a Garden' . Eden . Fall 2014 . 17 . 4 . 19 August 2020 . California Garden & Landscape History Society . 23 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210423044915/https://cglhs.org/resources/Documents/Eden-17.4-Fa-2014.pdf . live .
  14. News: Egelhoff . Rose . 5 Colleges Where Students Are Getting Creative with Sustainable Agriculture . 12 August 2023 . . Industry Dive . October 30, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230528065447/https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/ex/sustainablecitiescollective/5-colleges-where-students-are-getting-creative-sustainable-agriculture/1009501/ . May 28, 2023 . live.
  15. News: Schmidt . Jennifer . Tending More Than Just a Seed . 5 August 2020 . . 11 November 2013 . 22 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210622194341/https://tsl.news/opinions3510/ . live .
  16. News: Freedman . Kara . Pomona College Farm Stand Brings Fresh Produce to Campus . 5 August 2020 . . 23 September 2011 . 26 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200926181034/https://tsl.news/news224/ . live .
  17. News: Asokin . Ratik . 8 Classes You Might Have Overlooked . 5 August 2020 . The CMC Forum . November 14, 2011 . 4 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240204221352/https://www.cmcforum.com/2011/life/11142011-8-classes-you-might-have-overlooked . live .
  18. News: Xu . Sitong . FarmFest Celebrates Earth Day . 5 August 2020 . . 29 April 2016 . 28 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200928174223/https://tsl.news/life-style5879/ . live .
  19. Web site: 2008 . Pomona College Timeline . Pomona College . 5 August 2020 . en . . 25 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210125052624/https://www.pomona.edu/timeline/2000s/2008 . live .
  20. News: Brooks . Rachel . Do University Farms Truly Teach Sustainability? . 10 August 2023 . . 20 March 2023 . 10 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230810232438/https://www.thenation.com/article/environment/student-campus-gardens-farms-sustainability-food-systems/ . live .

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