NEWS:
HARVEST CELEBRATION! OCTOBER 6th
WHAT: Potluck dinner and last CSA share delivery, bring a dish to share and your own place setting. Dessert and drinks provided.
WHEN: October 6th, 5:30 p.m.
WHERE: 1927 Maxwell Avenue, Ames, IA, 50010
NOW RECRUITING OFFICERS!
Who We Are
The ISU Student Organic Farm (SOF) is a Iowa State University campus club whose membership includes undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and Ames community members.
Since the organization's conception in the fall of 1996, students have
managed all aspects of the 6 acre farm: planning, writing grants,
managing money, stocking supplies, building structures, growing crops,
and selling the products. In the past, the SOF sold at the Ames
Farmer's Market, though now most of the produce is donated to shelters
and food banks in Ames.
This fall, the Student Organic Farm will sell
produce to ISU Dining through the Farm to ISU program.
What We Do
- create a functioning farm that meets both educational and production goals
- practice and experiment with organic production methods.
- increase community awareness and support of local food systems.
- encourage multidisciplinary cooperation in sustainable food systems.
Where We Are
The original location of the farm was off of Ontario Street in northwest Ames until it moved to its location on south of ISU on Mortensen Road in 1998.
Since 2006 it has been located at the ISU Horticulture Station. There we have 4 acres (a half acre is in vegetable production).
55519 170th Street, Ames, Iowa
http://www.hort.iastate.edu/facilities/hortfarm.html
What We Grow
Our major crops for the past several years have included tomatoes, onions, potatoes, leeks, radishes, spinach, kale, and peppers. Last year we have a great variety of crops from peanuts to watermelon; we had a fantastic harvest of green beans (thank you Tomoko!). We also tend several perennial crops including asparagus, raspberries, strawberries and rhubarb. The edge of the farm is bordered by peach trees too! We are always interested in trying new things, so if you have any ideas of crops you would like to grow and you are willing to share your skills and time, please join us!
Farm to ISU
In 2007, Iowa State University’s dining services initiated the Farm to ISU program to increase
its purchases of local, organic, and alternatively produced agricultural products. Since then ISU
Dining staff has built relationships with many farmers and agricultural organizations in order to
fulfill the overall mission of the Farm to ISU program, which is to strengthen Iowa’s
agricultural economy. To learn more please visit: http://www.dining.iastate.edu/farm/
