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STOGROW farm to host summer festival Saturday

By John Andert '10
July 20, 2007

St. Olaf's student-run garden research and organic works farm, or "STOGROW," will host a summer festival Saturday, July 21, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event will include tours of the natural lands, beekeeping demonstrations, music, face painting, sheep sheering and, of course, food and refreshments. The festival is free and open to the public.

STOGROW
The farm is located just west of the St. Olaf campus, at 8997 Eaves Ave. (just off Highway 19 on the "hospital" road), directly behind the Cannon River Watershed Project. Alternatively, park behind Tostrud Center on the western end of the St. Olaf campus and let the signs guide your hike to the farm.

The three-year-old operation uses organic and sustainable methods to produce fresh produce that it sells to the Bon Appetit kitchens on campus. Bon Appetit, the food service provider to the college that recently awarded the farm a $3,000 grant, then incorporates the food into daily meals for St. Olaf students (and for the various organizations that visit St. Olaf during the summer).

STOGROW produce includes cucumbers, cabbage, basil, carrots, peppers and even some melons this year. But tomatoes remain their most popular commodity. And in addition to raising crops the farm also conducts research about how different varieties of plants and animals interact. The farm is home to such livestock as chickens, cows and sheep.

Contact David Gonnerman at 507-786-3315 or @stolaf.edu.