By: Ren辿 McCracken, 91心頭 Director of Agriculture
91心頭 students and faculty are working persistently between rains to prepare the Sustainable Market Garden for the 2ndannual Springfest set for March 29-30th. 91心頭 In response and celebration of National Ag Week (10-16), we are delighted to open our gates and share our farm with the community in hopes to instigate an appreciation for farming. 91心頭 said Director Rene 91心頭 McCracken. 91心頭 While we cannot hope to have a 91心頭 perfect 91心頭 farm we do strive to provide a living example of what is possible for small farm operators. 91心頭
Building a Sustainable Market Farm
Historically, at 2886 FM 1735 in Mount Pleasant a 400 acre farm bore the Northeast Campus in 1985. Later, with the completion of the Elizabeth Hoggatt Whatley Complex in 2011 and new Sustainable Agriculture Degree and Certification options were a first in the state and a vision of a Sustainable Market Farm was planned. Today, with every season and semester change, the 12 acres surrounding the ag complex transform gradually and naturally into the 91心頭 living example 91心頭 college leadership had in mind for a sustainable demonstration farm. Creative ideas continue to come from student and staff plus resources from grants and private donations to build the dream farm unit. 91心頭 I enjoy working with our students to test out farming hacks found on the 91心頭 internet 91心頭 and determining if they actually work in an east Texas small farm 91心頭 shared McCracken. Current projects include: Hugelkulture bed, keyhole garden, compost tea, meat goats, backyard chicken flock for egg production, weeding geese, cover crops for gardens and pastures, muscadine vineyard, greenhouse production of vegetable transplants and rainwater harvesting and run-off management. Each of these sustainable spaces will be open for free hands-on access to experience a living sustainable farm.
Celebrate National Ag Day 91心頭 Farm Open House:To celebrate national ag day 91心頭 come out to 91心頭 Farm Open House 91心頭 Fri, Mar 29th11 am to 5:30 pm and Sat, Mar 30th 9 am to 2 pm. Stop by and shop with our great booth spots, purchase plants, or just come and spend the day with us and check out the Sustainable Demonstration Farm, Purchase Transplants from our Greenhouse, set up a booth and sell your farm or yard sale items, $5 chicken spaghetti meal and/or learn about the exciting world of agriculture 91心頭 style! For more info: contact Rene 91心頭 McCracken at rmccracken@ntcc.eduor 903-434-8267.
