Farmelton
The Carleton Farm
A project of the Bio 160 Agroecology Course

College Name
Slippery Rock University (Pennsylvania).
 
Brief Description of College
Slippery Rock  is a public university that offers some doctoral programs in cooperation with the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Both institutions are members of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. There are 7,157 undergraduates and 691 graduate students.

Farm Size
The Macoskey Center has a farm of 83 acres, and it is organic.

Produce of Farm
The Macoskey Center has diverse farm of vegetables and flowers, including peas, beans, grape tomatoes, swiss chard, and marigolds

Farming Approach
Slippery Rock defines organic growing, which they strive for, as such: “Organic refers to foodstuffs grown or raised without synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, hormones, or genetic modifications.  It therefore also refers to the practices by which those crops were grown. Organic farming management relies on developing biological diversity in the field to disrupt habitat for pest organisms, as well as the purposeful maintenance and replenishment of soil fertility.”

Where Produce Goes
They sell in their Macoskey Center-managed Slippery Rock Farmers' Market.

How Farm is Funded
The Robert A. Macoskey center is an official department of the University, even though classes themselves aren’t taught through it. “Come to us, or we can come to your classroom and help to provide instruction on applied sustainability and sustainable systems. Let's talk about how we can integrate sustainability into your academic experience! ” Also, they keep the proceeds from their sales in the farmer’s market.  

How Farm is Staffed and Supervised
Full-time workers, graduate Assistantships, student worker positions (Part-time work study positions), volunteer Service opportunities (for credit or to learn more about sustainability), Harmony House residency (rough equivalent of Carleton Farm House) staff the farm.

Purposes of Farm
Slippery Rock- They “promote a societal shift towards a regenerative partnership with ecological systems. The Macoskey Center enacts this mission in three fundamental ways: education about sustainability through events, workshops and programs, physical demonstration of sustainable technologies and systems, and supporting sustainability-focused academic initiatives and research.”

How Farm was Initiated
Slippery Rock’s Macoskey Center was founded in 1986.