Embedded Files
2005: Students investigate possibility of campus garden
2005: Students investigate possibility of campus garden
Students Carried out Investigation of the Feasibility of a “Campus Garden” on South Academy Street, accessible to campus.
Students Carried out Investigation of the Feasibility of a “Campus Garden” on South Academy Street, accessible to campus.
2009: Students propose establishing a Knox Farm and agriculture class
2009: Students propose establishing a Knox Farm and agriculture class
Students, Faculty and Staff Rachel Deffenbaugh and Samir Bakhshi, brought forward proposals for a Knox Farm and Agriculture Class
Students, Faculty and Staff Rachel Deffenbaugh and Samir Bakhshi, brought forward proposals for a Knox Farm and Agriculture Class
2011: Urban Agriculture becomes part of curriculum
2011: Urban Agriculture becomes part of curriculum
Urban Agriculture course is taught for the first time in Fall 2011 by Professor Peter Schwartzman in Environmental Studies.
Urban Agriculture course is taught for the first time in Fall 2011 by Professor Peter Schwartzman in Environmental Studies.
2014: Hightunnels are constructed on campus
2014: Hightunnels are constructed on campus
Hightunnels are constructed on-site. The Production tunnel (left) was overseen by the Director of Sustainability and dedicated to growing produce for the Knox Farm cafeteria. The Education Tunnel (right) was overseen by Environmental Studies and was used as a classroom lab space.
Hightunnels are constructed on-site. The Production tunnel (left) was overseen by the Director of Sustainability and dedicated to growing produce for the Knox Farm cafeteria. The Education Tunnel (right) was overseen by Environmental Studies and was used as a classroom lab space.
2015: Student Employment at the Knox Farm
2015: Student Employment at the Knox Farm
The Office of Sustainability creates a paid student Farm Manager position.
Under this management, the Knox Farm begins growing, harvesting, and selling produce to the Knox Cafeteria.
2018: Food Systems Coordinator hired as part time staff to manage Knox Farm
2018: Food Systems Coordinator hired as part time staff to manage Knox Farm
The Office of Sustainability hires a part-time staff member as a Food Systems Coordinator to manage space and train student employees. This offers increased production of vegetables to sell and share with the Knox farm community.
The Office of Sustainability hires a part-time staff member as a Food Systems Coordinator to manage space and train student employees. This offers increased production of vegetables to sell and share with the Knox farm community.
2019: Fruit trees are planted at the Knox Farm
2019: Fruit trees are planted at the Knox Farm
The Office of Sustainability organizes an Arbor Day celebration in which volunteers plant fruit trees and native shrubs. Each Arbor Day in subsequent years, new plants are added to the edible forest garden.
The Office of Sustainability organizes an Arbor Day celebration in which volunteers plant fruit trees and native shrubs. Each Arbor Day in subsequent years, new plants are added to the edible forest garden.
2020: Defining our mission, Planting New Seeds
2020: Defining our mission, Planting New Seeds
A Knox Farm Mission Statement is created, and the Office of Sustainability takes on management of all parts of the Knox Farm.
Food Systems is taught for the first time in Spring 2020, which utilizes the Knox Farm as a laboratory. Other classes increasingly begin utilizing the space.
The Office of Sustainability planted the first two medicinal herbal guilds to begin the Edible Forest Garden around the fruit trees at the Knox Farm.
The Office of Sustainability planted the first two medicinal herbal guilds to begin the Edible Forest Garden around the fruit trees at the Knox Farm.
An herbal guild is a community of plants that support each other in ways that contribute to greater health for the plants and other wildlife.
2021: Student collaborative research begins at the Knox Farm
2021: Student collaborative research begins at the Knox Farm
The Knox Farm hosts summer collaborative research, supported by the Vovis Center.
The Knox Farm hosts summer collaborative research, supported by the Vovis Center.
Students work on a Design and implement an herbal fruit tree guild Project
Students work on a Design and implement an herbal fruit tree guild Project
and a Solutions to Environmental Problems.
and a Solutions to Environmental Problems.
Urban Agriculture begins being taught by Director of Sustainability and the Knox Farm, Tina Hope, and is integrated into the management of the Knox Farm.
2022: Collaborative research in herbalism and composting
2022: Collaborative research in herbalism and composting
The Knox Farm hosts two summer collaborative student research projects, supported by the Vovis Center: Bioregional Herbalism (led by Tina Hope) and Community-Scale Composting (led by William Hope). These projects encourage further participation, research, and exploration of composting and herbalism at the Knox Farm.
The Knox Farm hosts two summer collaborative student research projects, supported by the Vovis Center: Bioregional Herbalism (led by Tina Hope) and Community-Scale Composting (led by William Hope). These projects encourage further participation, research, and exploration of composting and herbalism at the Knox Farm.
In Fall 2022, the Office of Sustainability hires a Campus as a Living Lab Coordinator (formerly titled Food Systems Coordinator) to assist in managing the sustainability initiatives, including the Knox Farm.
A Community-Scale Composting program begins at the Knox Farm.
The Knox Farm begins offering more farm tours, events, and workshops for the community. We also begin hosting volunteer hours twice weekly.
Community-scale Com[pstomg Research Group
Bioregional Herbalism Research Group
2023: Student research blooms
2023: Student research blooms
Students increasingly conduct summer research at the Knox Farm. For example, Ava Vaccarella does a research project to invite honeybees into the space and Teagan Springer, paints a mural on the shed at the Knox Farm.
Students increasingly conduct summer research at the Knox Farm. For example, Ava Vaccarella does a research project to invite honeybees into the space and Teagan Springer, paints a mural on the shed at the Knox Farm.
In fall 2023, the Knox Farm has a dedicated compost crew of student employees.
In fall 2023, the Knox Farm has a dedicated compost crew of student employees.
2024: The Knox Farm Website is Created
2024: The Knox Farm Website is Created
Student Aakriti Dahal creates a first draft of the Knox Farm website as part of her independent study project.
Student Aakriti Dahal creates a first draft of the Knox Farm website as part of her independent study project.
2025: Increased staffing and envisioning the future of the space
2025: Increased staffing and envisioning the future of the space
In summer 2025, the Biophilic and Resilient Design collaborative student research group investigates the potential of a learning center at the Knox Farm.
In summer 2025, the Biophilic and Resilient Design collaborative student research group investigates the potential of a learning center at the Knox Farm.
In fall 2025, Campus as a Living Lab Coordinator Teagan Springer transitions into full time Assistant Director of Sustainability and Resiliency.
In fall 2025, Campus as a Living Lab Coordinator Teagan Springer transitions into full time Assistant Director of Sustainability and Resiliency.
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