Knox Farm
The Knox Farm
The Knox Farm is an on-campus, student-powered urban farm that provides hands-on learning experiences. The one-acre space includes two high tunnels (like greenhouses, these covered structures extend the growing season), outdoor gardens, and an edible forest landscape that consists of herbal guilds of edible and medicinal native plants that support each other’s growth.
At the farm, students engage in regenerative farming practices as part of class curriculum, volunteer opportunities, and employment through the Knox Farm Crew. Produce from the farm is then served at the Knox Cafeteria and shared with the community. For more information about the Knox Farm and opportunities to get involved, please visit the Knox Farm website, as well as our Facebook and instagram pages.
Mission and Values
The Knox Farm’s mission is to contribute to more participatory, regenerative, and efficient food systems that benefit our community and our environment and contribute to greater resiliency. We work towards our mission through these existing structures:
Working with students to develop skills and meaningful relationships
Students manage and participate in food production at the Knox Farm as farm crew members, volunteers, and in classes in ways that foster growth, learning new skills and cultivating meaningful relationships with others (human and nonhuman) within the landscape.
Sustainable production and sharing
Our commitment to sustainability and resilience goes beyond obtaining a yield to deliver fresh and organic produce to Dining Services. We also actively strive to be more regenerative in our growing methods and to share the harvest with dedicated crews, farm volunteers, and the Knox community.
Waste to resource paradigm
We compost garden trimmings and community members' food scraps on-site to create nutrient-rich compost, which we use as a soil amendment.
Biodiversity in action
We support biodiversity by working with a wide variety of plants, including native species, specialty crops, and staple garden fruits and vegetables. We are inspired by regenerative growing techniques that support soil health, local wildlife, and human wellness. We do this by:
- companion planting
- saving seeds
- not using any insecticides or herbicides
- rotating crops
- working with cover crops
- mulching
- applying compost as a soil amendment
- working with hand tools as part of a minimal till/no till cultivation method
How to Get Involved
Come volunteer during our volunteer hours (Monday and Friday from 4-5:00 pm during the fall and spring term), and check the sustainability newsletter for more information about special events. People of all experience levels are welcome! We will teach you what you need to know to contribute.
And, you can learn more about farming and gardening by taking an Urban Agriculture class, taught by Farm and Sustainability Director Tina Hope!
Additionally, many students engage with the Knox Farm as a site for research or creative projects! If you're interested in doing a project at the farm, reach out to Tina Hope (kahope@knox.edu) to discuss possibilities.