Mike Campbell, Associate Dean, Zurn School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics; Professor of Biology, Mercyhurst College, Erie, PA

The College Garden as a Laboratory for Sustainable Agriculture

In three years, the Mercyhurst College experiment in sustainable agriculture has grown from a half-acre project to a 5-acre operation that regularly delivers fresh produce to the college kitchens, three farmers markets, and a local food bank. Besides companion planting demonstrations and introductions of natives, perennials and fruit trees, we have advanced field research in soil restoration ecology, carbon sequestration, and organic methods of weed control. Student involvement has been a key ingredient in all phases of the garden project, and our academic program is currently being expanded to include training courses in landscape design and renewable energy technology. An analysis of the successes and failures to-date in the development of our academic program will be presented.