Darrell Hansen of Humboldt Creamery gives an assist to one of the creameries newest employees (Photo by Carrie Branovan)

Darrell Hansen of Humboldt Creamery gives an assist to one of the creamery's newest employees (© 2006-2007 Carrie Branovan)

 

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College of the Redwoods Farm Enters Its Fifth Growing Season (from Summer 2006)

Agriculture students taking the agriculture enterprise project are busy planning for the 2006 growing season. This will be the fifth year for the student run (CSA) Community Supported Agriculture project. Students sell shares in their garden. In return shareholders get a box of produce once a week for the entire growing season, usually 20 weeks. These students will also hold a farmers market on campus one day a week starting in late August. All produce has been grown in Shively on the CR farm. This year there will also be some produce grown on the CR campus. A half-acre garden was certified as organic this past year. This will give students the opportunity to grow crops that are heat sensitive such as lettuce.

The CR farm has had some recent improvements that will help the students with their projects. First, an 8 by 10 walk in cooler was installed in the barn that allows students to be able to cool their produce prior to shipment. Second, two pieces of new equipment were purchased with Measure Q funds. A 3 row vegetable seeder and a mechanical transplanter. This equipment has helped in the planting of crops. The equipment has been a great help since all planting was done by hand prior to this. Other improvements include deer fencing, renovation of the field irrigation well and the construction of a vegetable washing station. Future plans include the construction of a donated 30 by 74 heated greenhouse and the construction of a student restroom facility.

Enrollment in the courses held on the farm are increasing. However, they are still far from filling up. One reason of course is transportation to the farm. The CR farm is located 45 minutes south of the main campus. The other reason is that our agriculture program at CR is small. Our hopes are that over the next several years that we can increase enrollment in both the farm and CR agriculture classes.