{"id":3070,"date":"2023-07-19T09:39:15","date_gmt":"2023-07-19T14:39:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/naturallands\/?page_id=3070"},"modified":"2025-08-06T15:32:29","modified_gmt":"2025-08-06T20:32:29","slug":"stogrow","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/naturallands\/stogrow\/","title":{"rendered":"STOGROW"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Check out the sustainable, student-run campus farm!<\/h2>\n\n\n
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STOGROW, the on-campus farm of approximately 1.5 acres, is an entirely student-run community initiative. Each winter, a number of students are hired to work on the farm during the following summer and throughout the growing season, in addition to taking a course in the spring centered around sustainable farming practices. Students are able to directly apply lessons about agriculture that they have learned during their course, while also making decisions about what works best for them as they progress. STOGROW provides a place for students to practice and troubleshoot farming, learn from mistakes, and focus on improvement without worrying too much about the bottom line.<\/p>\n\n\n

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All the produce, over 2 tons grown each season, is sold to Bon App\u00e9tit and incorporated into menu items at Stav Hall and the Cage. STOGROW provides vital experience in working with the land for students and feeds the St. Olaf community healthy and sustainable produce. At the beginning of the season, the farmers communicate with Bon App\u00e9tit to determine what sorts of produce should be grown, which is vital to determining the layout of the farm. Harvest is made up of produce crops selected by the farmers themselves along with any favorites from previous seasons requested by Bon App\u00e9tit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Practice sustainable farming methods; provide fresh, local vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers to the St. Olaf community; foster agricultural awareness; and provide education about sustainable food production<\/p>\nSTOGROW Goals<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n

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Landscape fabric is used to help prevent weeds from popping up, retains soil moisture, and keeps the soil warm to promote crop growth<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

While STOGROW is not a certified organic farm, a multitude of organic and sustainable practices are used to maintain the field and hoop-house where a variety of crops are grown. Tilling is limited to help promote soil health, drip irrigation is used to limit water runoff, and weeds are manually removed instead of using pesticides. In addition, there is an annual crop rotation to avoid depleting carbon and nutrient levels in the soil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

History of STOGROW<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Established in 2005 by Dayna Burtness (\u201907) and Dan Borek (\u201907) along with financial aid through a Finstad Entrepreneurial Grant, St. Olaf Garden Research and Organic Works, better known as STOGROW, has been student run from the outset. Originally located at James Farm off of Eaves avenue, STOGROW was home to chickens and honeybees in addition to produce, but has since relocated to be north of the Art Barn along Windy Lane to increase space and accessibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to selling produce to Bon App\u00e9tit, STOGROW began contributing to Grab & Go to provide free produce to students living on campus over the summer in 2023. While this idea only came to fruition late in the summer, future farmers can hopefully carry on this legacy to ensure that students can access healthy, local produce regardless of their meal plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meet the Farmers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n