Twelve years ago, students in an upper-level Environmental Studies class were presented with a task: develop a plan to make Dartmouth more environmentally sustainable.
They drew out a proposal for an organic farm -- one of these involved using compost from the College and eventually producing food for the campus.
After being shelved for several years, a new group of students came across the report and saw its potential. As a result of this group's work students began gardening at Fullington Farm, a college-owed 200-acre parcel of land, in the early '90s.
Pleased with the fruits of their efforts, more and more students -- including Dartmouth Outing Club members and Environmental Studies faculty -- saw the worth of the Fullington Farm site and joined in the gardening.
In 1995, students submitted a proposal to Dartmouth's administration for College support of the farm. A second proposal was finally accepted, and the farm hired a manager and developed a business plan under which the farm would become economically self-sustaining by its fourth year.
Although the farm continues to rely on the College for economic support four growing seasons later, it has sprouted into a wildly successful student-run organization cultivating various academic, social, and residential options.
Relying mostly on student volunteers, the farm organically grows over 15 different vegetables every year.
In addition, the College owns a house on the property that it sublets to students who live and work on the farm.
This integration of the residential component with the social and academic aims of the farm is what makes it truly successful, according to Scott Stokoe, the farm's manager.
At the social level, the farm holds events such as potluck dinners open to the entire campus. It also provides opportunities for students to spontaneously stop by to pull weeds, hike, or swim in the river.
The farm is also used by up to nine classes each term, with departments from religion to creative writing to environmental studies making use of the facilities. Equipped with classroom space, yet located in a unique rural setting, many classes use the farm for its unique atmosphere and to connect with the living world.
One environmental studies class tests soils, tracking the nutrients year to year. Ecological agriculture students have their own test plots in the garden, tracking their plants grown as they hoe and weed.
Students preparing for the Zimbabwe foreign study program grow and care for plants like those growing in the region they will visit, getting a taste of aspects of an agrarian society.
In the future, the farm hopes to add lab space for classes using the facility.
Many take advantage of the farm's resources outside of classes, too. An interest in creating sustainable life systems leads many students to the farm, according to Stokoe.
He said the farm offers a chance to create living systems, allowing students to gain a depth of understanding beyond what can be gathered from pure academics.
Over the years, the farm's purpose has shifted to offering educational and recreational opportunities not originally envisioned. Stokoe said the farm provides wonderful opportunities that might be lost had the farm forced to be economically self-supporting.
Though the farm has faced issues with funding, all are now in agreement that the organic farm is a successful program and should be kept, Stokoe said.
Although it is not self-sufficient, the farm does make some income from selling its produce to Collis, the Hanover Inn and the Ravine Lodge. Also, it runs a farm stand outside of Collis every Thursday afternoon that brings in some revenues.
Stokoe said another advantage to the farm is that its activites can be done with no prior experience -- noting that harvesting, hoeing, weeding and pruning are just a few of the simple tasks completed at the farm.
The farm can also function as a part of a student's academic work, providing many opportunities for students to research, appreciate the beautiful landscape, or simply provide a different atmosphere.
Leah Horowitz '02, who is involved at the farm, said she appreciates its "wild and cultivated nature," and the amazing people -- specifically writers and anthropologists --it draws. She the farm allows her to create a deeper connection with these people while doing meaningful work.
"It's a place where you can take learning out of the classroom ... When I come here and actually see the impact of my actions, it's a much more meaningful learning experience."
"It's a gorgeous place, a totally different atmosphere," where you can eat dinner handpicked from your backyard, Horowitz said.
