Sustainability for the Community

This week in class we all participated in our final projects of the year, shooting towards ways to make the community and farm more sustainable. In groups of 1-3, we have the rest of the year to create one project that promotes sustainability. Many groups chose tasks around the farm while others chose internships off campus. One group is restoring and providing chickens for the chicken coop we have on our farm. With chickens on our farm, we could use their poop as fertilizer and eggs to sell at our markets. A few groups are restoring class beds like the strawberry and flower bed by weeding, adding compost, and planting. My group will be restoring the hoop house beds and adding various peppers and pumpkins. In order to do this, we will need to completely strip and weed both beds adding compost and more soil. We have already planted started and it looks like we will be planting jalapenos, bell peppers, poblanos, habaneros, and pumpkins. We are growing these peppers and pumpkins in the hoop house because of their need for heat and a lot of sunlight. With the sun starting to really show this is the perfect time of the year for peppers to take full advantage of the sun and grow to their full potential.  —cooper