Just like many other universities across the country, the University of Oregon has its own urban farm. However, unlike other institutions, this farm exists entirely for the students and the campus community — with no financial motivations.
According to farm manager Harper Keeler, the urban farm “is two things: a place and a program.” The farm itself is 35 years old, but it didn’t truly find its footing until the ’90s. He teaches classes all four terms, from fall through summer, and instructs about 300 students every year.
“I’d say it’s as popular as any class at the university,” he said of his urban farm class, which is composed primarily of fifth-year seniors because of its high demand and their registration priority.
Due to this popularity, the ASUO recently granted the program a sum of money from the over-realized funds pool to expand the program to an additional plot of land and make it more accessible.
“We teach kids … the nuts and bolts of how to grow your own food,” he said. Then, they go out and do it.
What sets the UO urban farm apart from similar farms across the country is that all 1,200 pounds of produce harvested throughout the year goes straight to the students who grow it.
“I think that distinguishes us among university farms,” he said. “Almost all of them have some sort of marketing angle. I’m of the opinion that we have free air, free water, free soil, free labor — and we have no need to enter that sort of competitive market with our friends.”
While most farms exploit economic opportunities, such as farm stands or farmers markets, Keeler understands the money given to him by the university should stay on campus and out of his pockets. What his students can’t eat, he donates to the UO food pantry, which distributes free food to students who need it.
Another requirement of his program is each of his students must get out into the community and perform community service.
“My students perform hundreds of hours of service learning,” he said, noting that in the past year his budding farmers have logged over 1,000 hours of community service.
Smiling faces, long hair, dirty jeans and even dirtier hands are never far from the UO’s urban farm, which is located in the north side of Franklin Boulevard.