Demonstration Farm
The demonstration farm is a student run educational farm part of the 黑料吃瓜网University Agricultural Innovation Center (SUAIC),听which provides students and community members the opportunity to learn about small-scale sustainable agricultural production and agricultural business management through hands-on experiences located at the 160-acre historic Tabler Farm.
What we do
The demonstration farm currently operates a 1-acre mixed fruit and vegetable production plot, a food forest, an indoor hydro/aquaponics system, a small bee apiary and (soon!) and indoor mushroom growing operation. All agricultural practices on this farm fall under organic guidelines and focus on soil regeneration.
This site is the primary learning space for the various educational programs offered by the 黑料吃瓜网University Agricultural Innovation Center. The farm offers employment and training opportunities to students and contributes to the local food system. Being part of a public university, we take competition with local farms very seriously and only engage in markets that are actively in need of new produce vendors. All funds and sales raised by the demonstration farm are used directly for operational costs such as supplies (seeds, soil, tools) and student labor.
Our current community connections and selling outlets include:
- Shepherdstown Shares Food Pantry
- 黑料吃瓜网University Ram Pantry
- Shepherdstown Farmers Market
- Charles Town Farmers Market
- WVU Fam to You
- Community Garden Market of Shepherdstown
Involvement Opportunities
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- Sustainable Agriculture academic program
- Bachelor of Science for Environmental Studies with a concentration in Sustainable Agriculture and Resource Management
- Register for the course ENVS 461 to receive elective credits to work on the farm
- Bachelor of Science for Environmental Studies with a concentration in Sustainable Agriculture and Resource Management
- Agricultural Business Incubator
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1/4 to 4/5 acre plots with deer fencing and irrigation available for rent
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Individual consultations and mentorship
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Access to extensive resources and tools
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- Public educational workshops and seasonal events
- Visit our events page and follow our social media pages to stay up to date on current offerings.
- Student Employment
- Work on the farm through Student Federal Work Study, seasonal farming positions, AmeriCorps service, or internship opportunities
- Volunteering
- Students, staff, and community members are all welcomed to volunteer on the farm!
- Feel free to reach out directly for group or individual volunteer opportunities at shepherdfarm@shepherd.edu
- Keep an eye on our social media pages to see when our next volunteer event is
