SPRING VALLEY FARM
Surrounded by sprawling farmlands, forests, and solar panels, the University of Connecticut attracts many students who are passionate about sustainability. One of the organizations that heavily contributes to UConn’s eco-friendly reputation is Spring Valley Student Farm, located about 4.5 miles off campus. At the farm, students tend the fields to grow organic produce that goes straight to UConn Dining Services. However, growing food isn’t the only role of the farm. Spring Valley also prides itself on being an inclusive place where the UConn community can learn about sustainability. Spring Valley accomplishes this by hosting Farm Fridays, a weekly open-house — or more aptly, open-farm — event where students can spend an afternoon planting, harvesting, and mulching.
During the fall semester, every Friday from Sept. 3 through Oct. 29, UConn students left campus on shuttle buses at 4 p.m. and returned two hours later with muddy boots and expanded knowledge of sustainable farming practices.
Written By Mary Lasley Photos By Brandon Chain“The intent of Farm Fridays is to provide a way to get students onto the farm to learn about and help out with sustainable farming,” said Phoebe Mrozinski, a seventh-semester environmental science major and student farmer at Spring Valley. Mrozinski has been involved with the farm since 2019. “We’re hoping to bring an inclusive place for students to escape campus for an afternoon and connect with nature.”
Spring Valley originated as a Residential Life project in the spring of 2010. According to their website, the farm currently exists as a shared effort by UConn Dining Services, Residential Life, the EcoHouse Learning Community, the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, and the Office of Sustainability. Students can work on the farm during the school year or over the summer. Those who wish to spend even more time tending the farm can apply for one of eleven student farmer positions.
Those student farmers live on the farm year-round, tending to the farm and learning the ins and outs of sustainability, organic farming, and the business side of agriculture, all while providing fresh fruits and vegetables for Dining Services. However, for students who can’t make such a commitment, Farm Fridays are a perfect opportunity to spend an afternoon learning more about the farm while simultaneously helping to keep it in shape.
For students who can’t make the commitment of working for or living on the farm, Farm Fridays are the perfect opportunity to spend an afternoon learning about the farm and its operations. Farm Fridays’ final meeting of the semester — a garlic planting event — was celebrated with a roaring campfire and a chili dinner for the volunteers. Though the farm does not host events over winter break, Farm Fridays are scheduled to kick off again after spring break, and students can resume planting seeds and clearing weeds right where they left off.