September 17, 2015

Center for Sustainable Farming to host festival

by Andrea Hahn

CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Southern Illinois University Carbondale Center for Sustainable Farming invites the community for the Second Annual Harvest Festival and Open House, 4-7 p.m. on Sept. 24. 

The student-operated sustainable farm is part of the College of Agricultural Science’s agricultural systems and education department. The two-acre facility (3373 W. Pleasant Hill Road, near campus) includes vegetable and fruit production and the vermicomposting center. 

Students will lead guided tours of the farm, which includes raised bed garden plots and a berry patch, and explain their sustainable gardening techniques. Prepared food is available on site created from produce grown at the farm.  Visitors can stay awhile and participate in the Student Center Craft Shop-sponsored child-friendly craft activities.   

The farm supplies fresh vegetables to the SIU residence hall dining rooms, and provides organic and small farm-local foods experience for SIU students.