Beaver

Student Farm at Penn State Beaver

Established 2016

Humble Beginnings:

The Penn State Beaver campus student farm began with eight straw bales and expanded in 2017 to a fenced garden with four raised beds and 20 straw bales. In 2018, the campus moved the farm to a more expansive space allowing for 12 raised beds and a 96-foot high tunnel and herb garden.

Where we are now:

We have a 96′ x 21′ high tunnel with a storage shed, 12 raised beds with a small storage shed, an herb garden by the dining hall, a pollinator garden near the high tunnel and a student farm office to keep supplies. The biology department uses the gardens as a lab.

Our Goal:

Penn State Beaver Student Farm aims to 1) educate the campus about growing food and plants and engage the local community in the same and 2) provide food and flowers to the campus and community to foster an appreciation for local and sustainable farming.

Proudest Accomplishments:

Marissa Bufalini won a Sustainability Leadership Award in 2018 for her work in educating the campus community about Community Supported Agriculture and donating hundreds of pounds of tomatoes, peppers, and lettuce to two area food pantries.

Crops:

Spinach
Carrots
Parsley
Celery
Cauliflower
and so much more!

Founders and Grants:

Dr. Angela Fishman, Associate Professor of Mathematics and Coordinator of the Penn State Beaver Campus Farm began the farm with her SUST 200 Foundations of Leadership in Sustainability class students in 2016 along with Dr. Sarah Nilson, Assistant Professor of Biology and Lab Technician Brandy Davis.

Dr. Fishman received a PepsiCo Sustainable Communities Collaborative grant in 2017 for three years to sustain the farm in terms of materials, internship wages, and staffing. .

Dr. Fishman and Dave Slebodnik, farm coordinator, received a Growing Food Strategic Plan grant for (2018-2020) also supporting the same. The campus Academic Affairs awarded the farm a mini grant in 2016 to further student engagement.

Administrative home:

Academic Affairs

Community Partnerships:

Student Farm Club
Campus Earth Day Festival
Freedom Area Middle School – helped establish gardens in a courtyard
Community North Children’s Museum – helped build pollinator gardens
Beaver Falls Community Garden – helped with maintenance
Sisters of St. Joseph Community Gardens – helped with maintenance
Faith Restorations Food Pantry – provided hundreds of pounds
Salvation Army of Beaver County – conducted dinners and activities with families
Crop & Kettle – their staff worked alongside students on training in the high tunnel

Visitors are welcome!

Contact Dr. Sarah Nilson (sen130@psu.edu) for more information.

Looking Forward:

The farm continues to serve as food and flower producer for the campus and larger community as well as a lab for classes and research projects.

Curricular Connections:

Sust 200
Sust 150N
Plants 220
Bio 150N
Math 035
Stat 200