The Student Experimental Farm was created for the students of Cal Poly. As a student, there is great opportunity to get involved with the experimental farm. There is a 2 unit credit/no credit class offered called Crop Science 202. It is an Enterprise Project where students get into groups of 3 or 4 and specialize in a certain area such as sales, crops, greenhouse, etc. The students have the option of choosing from 2 one-hour class meetings that they can attend weekly, and choosing from three 4-hour work periods where they are actually out working on the farm. About a dozen students enroll every quarter.

The students provide much labor force on the farm, and some are on the payroll. Students are eligible to become a memeber of the contract and to share in the profits after they have taken the class for three quarters. About 15-20% of students choose to continue in the class until they are on the payroll.

At least one paid person is on the farm during the available work hours. There are normally 3 part time students working at the farm, and 5 students over the summer.

The class goes well with Cal Poly's "learn by doing" motto. The produce is sold at farmer's market every week on Thursday nights downtown, and also Saturday mornings in the Promenade shopping center. This allows students to excerise practice in leadership roles while simultaneously selling the very fruit of their labor. The Student Experimental Farm is found sharing a booth with the Cal Poly Crops Enterprise Project. Produce is also bought from local restaurants and subscribers. Community subscribers pay around $500 for 26 weeks worth of crops. The students box the produce from May to November and local residents come and pick up their purchase weekly.

Crop Science 202 is taught by Dr. John Phillips and he can be contacted at jphillip@calpoly.edu (805) 756-6146

Others to be reached at the Student Experimental Farm:

Hunter Francis-Program Coordinator
Sustainable Agriculture Resource Consortium
c/o Horticulture amd Crop Science Department
California Polytechnic State University
San Luis Obispo, California 93407
wfrancis@calpoly.edu (805) 756-5068

Terry Hooker-Farm Manager
thooker@calpoly.edu

Michael Silverman-Production Manager
msilverm@calpoly.edu

Cal Poly Organic Farm line (805) 756-6139

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