A grant from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture will fund new activities at Carleton’s student farm, a key part of the College’s sustainability program.
According to project director Sarah Fortner, Carleton’s Director of Sustainability, student and staff farmers will run a study of mulching strategies for vegetable farming. Farm manager Amanda Sames and student farm interns will test three types of mulch on bell peppers and squash to measure impacts on soil health and profitability. Though the overall value of mulching is established, small-scale and diversified farms lack state-specific data about its costs and benefits.
At the end of two growing seasons, students and staff will present their data to local farmers on site at a field day and through additional materials created by the state vegetable extension. Fortner and Sames hypothesize that mulching will improve soil health and reduce weeding labor without compromising short-term vegetable yield. Profitability will be calculated for each mulching strategy based on market price. The farm sells produce to campus and provides some for donation to students over the summer.
The grant will fund additional student work hours for the farm and will cover the costs of supplies.