Abstract

The ISU Student Organic Farm (SOF) completed our fourth season at the ISU Horticulture Research Station. We had a number of outstanding efforts, visitors and new involvement, addition of 15 new fruit trees, as well as some recurring challenges. There were 12 community plots rented with plotters including current graduate and undergraduate students, alumni, ISU staff, and other members of the Ames community. We had the highest number of well-managed, productive rented plots of any year at our current location. It was great to have such efforts from the entire range of our participants. There were excellent crops of peas, potatoes, carrots, squash, cucumbers, beans, tomatoes, peppers, beets, and kohlrabi. Additionally, nine cherry trees and six pear trees were planted at the site and we expect some of them to bear fruit in the coming years. Also there was a trial of tomato varieties grown organically, which was informative and will be refined for continued improvement next season.

Keywords: RFR A9002

How to Cite:

Gunther, T., (2010) “Student Organic Farm Summary”, Iowa State University Research and Demonstration Farms Progress Reports 2009(1).