Student Organic Farm

The Student Organic Farm, dubbed “Cornercopia,” is located on campus and is co-sponsored by our department, Agronomy and Plant Genetics, and the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture. Undergraduates in our major are given the option of taking Hort 3131 Student Organic Farm Planning, Growing, and Marketing each spring, and those who are interested can pursue further involvement with the farm, such as opting to staff its stand at the weekly University farmer’s market.

Cornercopia is a fully functioning, USDA-certified organic farm that grows over 100 varieties of fruits and vegetables. In previous years, the farm has maintained a flock of laying hens. The video below tells the story of the farm and highlights some of its accomplishments.

Urban Poultry

In 2007 and 2008, the farm maintained a flock of laying hens, which lived in movable coops that were built and designed by students. During the winter, the flock was moved indoors, and throughout the year the farm sold the eggs at a weekly farmer's market. In the winter of 2008, the flock became infested by mites, and the farm chose to move the chickens to new homes rather than treat them with nonorganic pesticides. The farm hopes to have chickens again in the future.