The Rutgers Gardens Student Farm has utilized organic growing methods since its inception.
Follow our journey as we become Certified Organic!
As a new partner of the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Regional Partnership for Organic Transition, the Student Farm will be hosting a series of workshops and educational events to support transitioning and existing organic producers. The Student Farm will also be documenting and sharing its own transition towards becoming certified organic.
Sign up for a new series of Rutgers Gardens Student Farm e-newsletters here, and follow the farm’s Instagram account @rutgersstudentfarm to receive updates on the process towards organic certification. Learn how the Student Farm is developing an Organic System Plan (OSP), which includes charting its field history, buffers, seed and planting stock, materials and inputs, fertility management, natural resource conservation, compost and manure usage, crop rotation, pest management, storage and transportation, and additional recordkeeping.
Read the Rutgers Gardens Student Farm TOPP Newsletters:
Volume 1 (Published 11/18/2024)
The Student Farm will be hosting a comprehensive slate of technical assistance and training workshops as well as information and networking sessions from now through summer 2025. These events are free to attend, with the target audience of commercial producers (both current and prospective organic) as well as aspiring producers who are exploring their options for organic transition and looking for tips on how to develop an OSP.
Future Info Sessions & Workshops:
December 2024 – Organic 101 information session and networking with roundtable discussions
January 2025 – Materials and Inputs workshop (via Zoom)
January 2025 – Creating an Organic System Plan information & collaborative working group session
February 2025 – Recordkeeping workshop (via Zoom)
June 2025 – Ecosystem Services workshop
June 2025 – What to Expect at an Organic Inspection workshop
PAST EVENTS:
SEPTEMBER 18, 2024 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm
Organic Pest and Disease Management
Attendees will enjoy a field walk of the Student Farm with an educational focus on weed, pest, and disease management for organic farming. Guest speakers include Kris Holmstrom from the Rutgers Vegetable Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program and Dr. Andy Wyenandt, an Extension Specialist in Vegetable Pathology. The conversation will be facilitated by Alex Sawatzky, Assistant Director of Sustainable Agriculture & Urban Farms. There will be an opportunity to network with the guest speakers and other attendees, and light refreshments will be served.
Guest speaker bios:
Kris Holmstrom has managed the Rutgers Vegetable Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program’s north and central New Jersey operations for 38 years. Program outreach involves training student technicians in insect and disease identification and working directly with commercial vegetable growers to develop strategies to manage these pests in environmentally and economically sound ways. Kris holds a B.S. in Plant Science and an M.S. in Plant Pathology from Rutgers University.
Dr. Andy Wyenandt is an Extension Specialist in Vegetable Pathology located at the Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center (RAREC) in Bridgeton, NJ. For the last 20 years, Wyenandt has served as the New Jersey state extension specialist in plant pathology for vegetable and culinary herb diseases, responsible for the identification and control strategies for commercial field and greenhouse growers.
OCTOBER 30, 2024 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm
Soil Health, Fertility, and Conservation
As the foundation of organic farming, soil and its stewardship must be at the center of any production plan. Most production practices influence soil properties, and therefore must be implemented with intention to adequately sustain or enhance its health and quality. Join us on October 30th at the Rutgers Gardens Student Farm for a field walk and discussion focusing on practices and systems that prioritize soil and contribute towards its capacity to support plant and human health, and overall ecosystem function. Kimberly Dalton (Soil Conservationist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service), Joseph Heckman (Extension Specialist in Soil Fertility), and Alex Sawatzky (Assistant Director: Sustainable Agriculture & Urban Farms) will talk about cover cropping, mulching, reduced and no-till, soil carbon amendment, conservation cover, and crop/livestock integration. Kimberly will also give an overview of the programs offered by NRCS that provide technical and financial assistance to farmers, including the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), and Organic Initiative. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and refreshments will be served.
Guest Speaker Bios:
Kimberly Dalton is a Soil Conservationist with NRCS. She graduated with a degree in agricultural sciences from Rutgers and has 10 years of experience in organic vegetable production and now 5 years with the USDA implementing various soil health practices..
NRCS programs that Kimberly will be discussing during this workshop:
Joseph Heckman, Ph.D. is a Professor of Soil Science, Rutgers University, where he teaches courses in Soil Fertility, Organic Crop Production, and Agroecology. He conducts research and extension programs on optimizing nutrition and soil quality in support of plant, animal, and human health. You can read and subscribe to The Soil Profile, Dr. Heckman’s annual newsletter providing information on issues relating to soils and plant nutrition in New Jersey, at this link.
One-on-one technical assistance will be available to new and prospective organic growers who attend a workshop, at a limit of one mentorship session per person. This support will be offered by Alex Sawatzky via Zoom or over the phone for one hour appointments, with eligible participants contacted by our team.
