Organic at
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Ithaca,
N.Y.
Established 1996
12 acres
Contact: Marguerite Wells 607-227-0462
The
Dilmun Hill Farm was initially started as a place for students who
were interested in getting directly involved in growing garden market
produce and who were interested in general sustainable agriculture
practices. During the first year of operation it became clear that
the students were interested specifically in organic production. The
students decided to gear Dilmun Hill in the organic direction.
Funding was obtained both by faculty and students to establish Dilmun
Hill as an experiential education and learning center for students
devoted to organic practices. Dilmun Hill now consists of twelve acres
of which five are under cultivation in a raised bed system. Around
80 percent of the cultivated acreage is dedicated to fresh market
vegetables, 10 percent in cut flowers, and the remaining 10 percent
in rotational and forage crops, with additional projects like beekeeping,
medicine wheels, and permaculture plots.
During the summer production season students handle the operation
and management of the farm. Students elect two student farm managers.
In conjunction with faculty, farm managers determine the crops to
be grown, start seeds, and decide on crop placement for the season.
Students are responsible for the planting, weeding, harvesting, pest
management, and the marketing on the farm. Dilmun Hill provides students
with the necessary opportunity to put their course work in organic
farming systems into practice on an operational organic farm.
The Dilmun Hill Farm currently is the host to many different activities.
Student research projects are conducted on the farm. Recent student-directed
studies have included a survey of the insect populations in the different
beds, as well as looking at the beneficial insects and how they were
affected by flowering ground covers and mowed grass between crop rows.
A very extensive soil sampling of all crop beds was conducted in order
to determine and evaluate nutritional qualities and problems such
as pH levels, fertility, and heavy metal concentration within the
soil.
Community outreach is an important element to the Dilmun Hill Farm.
During the summer season children from Ithaca's South Side Community
Center and the Greater Ithaca Activities Center summer camps come
to the farm and grow produce which they then market and sell at these
community centers. This provides an excellent opportunity for children
to learn about agriculture and where food comes from. Dilmun Hill
also functions as a Volunteer Supported Agriculture Farm (VSA). People
within the community can volunteer at the farm and take home fresh
vegetables, flowers, and herbs. Around ninety percent of the crops
produced are given to the farms volunteers.
Throughout the academic year, many of the departments within Cornell
use Dilmun Hill as a teaching site. An organic gardening course will
be piloted at Dilmun Hill in the summer of 2003. Last summer a course
was offered for elementary and secondary school teachers on organic
gardening that is tailored for the instruction of organically managed
in school gardens. This course will continue to be offered annually.
Dilmun Hill is a place for the Cornell and local community to learn,
explore, and experiment.
© Copyright, Department of Horticulture, Cornell University.
Logo graphics by Rachel Kennedy.
Design by Craig Cramer.
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