Department of Biological Sciences
Dodge Hall Rm 375
118 Library Dr
Rochester,
MI
48309-4479
(location map)
(248) 370-3550
fax: (248) 370-4225
biology@minyu1218.com
Campus Student Organic Farm
The Campus Student Organic Farm (CSOF) at Oakland University is a community of students, faculty and staff committed to nourishing the local community through exceptional education and community engagement programs, fresh healthy food, and plenty of fun! The CSOF is a diversified vegetable farm growing over 50 different types of vegetables, fruits, flowers and herbs located at 3070 Butler Road in the southeast corner of campus at the intersection of Adams and Butler roads.
For more information about the academic programs, class farm tours, or scheduling group activities at the farm, contact Dr. Fay Hansen, Farm Director, at hansensm@minyu1218.com or 248-894-2841 (text is preferable; please identify yourself) or organicfarm@minyu1218.com. You can also check out the farm's Facebook account.
THANKSGIVING FARMSTAND & BAKE SALE
Who: OU Student Organic Farm and the Growing Grizzlies
When: Tuesday, November 21, 2023
Where: Mathematics and Science Center Atrium
Time: 10 AM - 2 PM
Student-grown organic veggies, student-baked pies, breads, and cookies made with locally sourced/organic ingredients. Pies - both family- and personal-sized available during sale.
Some items can also be pre-ordered.
PRE-ORDERS accepted until NOON on Friday, November 17, 2023 for the following items:
Family-sized Apple Pie: $20/each
Family-sized Pumpkin Pie: $15/each
Pumpkin Bread: $8/each
Send an email to organicfarm@minyu1218.com stating what you want and the quantity for each. Please include your name and phone number. Thank you!
Contact organicfarm@minyu1218.com for more information.
Give to the organic farmUrban Agriculture and Agroecology Minor
OU News October 2022: Raised beds completed at Campus Student Organic Farm
OU News November 2020: Student Organic Farmers Club rebrands to "Growing Grizzlies"
OU News January 2020: Organic Farm grows future leaders while reaping local awards
OU News August 2019: OU Campus Student Organic Farm launches crowdfunding campaign
Transcript
The farm allows anyone to come and volunteer. Through that, there’s class periods, group discussions - family-style - where you really learn about the benefits of the food and the benefits that it does for the environment that you live in.
I think it’s really important to know where your food comes from and how to grow your own food, especially for emergency sake purposes. I think it’s just a safety thing that’s really good to know. I’m actually an education major. I have nothing to do with farming or anything like that but it’s kind of, more so, a hobby.
It’s something that anyone can be a part of whether you want to work hands-on or whether you want to do research or if you’re just interested in learning about being helpful and mindful of what you’re putting in your body.
We’re all pretty friendly, so we always like to support each other in what they’re doing and you have lots of different ideas and opinions around here and different backgrounds. Very few have the same major but we’re all interested in food and stuff like that.
I don’t know, it’s kind of just opened my eyes to a whole new world and it’s a cool and fun experience that I think anybody should come and at least learn a little bit of.
We offer courses covering biology, ecology, food systems, human health and more. This is a list of the undergraduate courses currently available:
- BIO 3360 Organic Farming (lecture)
- BIO 3361 Applied Organic Farming (lab & field studies)
- BIO 3362 Permaculture
- BIO 3363 Permaculture Laboratory
- BIO 4338 Food Systems Biology
The Organic Farming and Permaculture courses give Oakland students a hands-on learning opportunity that examines the relationships between food, fiber, and fuel production practices as well as gain an understanding of sustainability and community health.
Courses are not just for students interested in biology, sustainability, nutrition or farming. They provide an intersection between numerous disciplines and emphasize problem solving, teamwork and collaboration.
Several major concentrations such as healthcare, education, business, marketing, and communications could all benefit from the hands-on training that an organic farm has to offer.
We offer an Urban Agriculture and Agroecology Minor and also provide students many opportunities to perform community service or complete a special project for their classes.
The farm grows over 50 varieties of fresh produce and cut flowers. Produce is harvested from our gardens and distributed to the campus community through our weekly summer/fall Campus Farmstand and through subscriptions to a Farm Share program.
Farmstand: Our student-operated Campus Farmstand is held every Thursday, starting the second week of July and running through the second week of October. The farmstand is located in front of Kresge Library near the Elliott Tower, but is moved indoors to the OU Recreation Center during inclement weather. We also hold an annual Thanksgiving produce and bake sale at the OU Recreation Center from 10AM until 2PM the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.
Farmshares: Produce is also distributed through our Farm Share program, which is based on the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) model. We offer a Full Season (20 week share), and 3 different eight-week shares: Early Season, Late Season, and Flowers. A Farm Share consists of a weekly half-bushel share of the farm’s seasonal produce, consisting of 4-8 varieties of produce, depending on the season. Contact organicfarm@minyu1218.com for details on price, dates, and availability.
Feeding the Community: We offer our volunteers “farmer food” and donate produce to several nonprofit services in the area.
Get hands-on experience at the farm, at the Campus Farmstand or at events. Volunteer opportunities are communicated through our email list and Facebook. Alternatively you may send an email to organicfarm@minyu1218.com for more information.
OU students, faculty and staff have the opportunity to work directly with the farm through the Growing Grizzlies. The organization helps distribute produce on campus to students as well as local nonprofit organizations. They provide education and student/community engagement opportunities on food systems and health including educational/demonstration events, speakers, film screenings, farm potlucks, campus events and more. Contact StudentOrganicFarmersOU@gmail.com, or follow them on Facebook.
The Campus Student Organic Farm also hosts interns from the Environmental Sciences (ENV), Integrated Studies Program and others.
The farm offers student employment and leadership opportunities. The Summer Student Campus Corp (SSCC) is a full time summer (May-August) program designed to give students work experience. Students interested in a particular focus of food systems can apply for Work Study at the farm.