Organic Farm records, 1971-2013

Overview of the Collection

Title
Organic Farm records
Dates
1971-2013 (inclusive)
Quantity
2.66 cubic feet, (7 document cases, 1 half document case)
Collection Number
US-WAOE.A.404613
Summary
This collection documents the archival material produced by the Organic Farm at The Evergreen State College from 1971 to 2013.
Repository
The Evergreen State College, Malcolm Stilson Archives and Special Collections
Archives and Special Collections
Daniel J. Evans Library
L2309
The Evergreen State College
2700 Evergreen Parkway NW
Olympia, WA
98505
Telephone: 3608676126
Fax: 3608676790
archives@evergreen.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is open to the public.

Languages
English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

The Organic Farm on The Evergreen State College campus was originally conceived in 1971 by students in the Experimental Design course and formerly instituted in 1972. The 5-acre area includes a farmhouse designed and built in 1971 by Evergreen students as well as fields, orchards, greenhouses, a composting facility, and various other outbuildings. The first harvest took place in summer of 1972. In 1973, Evergreen undertook a three-year evaluation, statement of philosophy, and a policy statement and began planning for future activities. 1973 also saw the beginning of a remodel of the farmhouse to address safety concerns. The solar greenhouse was completed in 1979 and the new farmhouse opened in 1980. The current Farmhouse has space for a full-time caretaker who lives on the premises and allocates a 40-student classroom space that is also used for banquets and festivals.

The first Harvest Fest was held in 1980 with over 800 people showing up to help celebrate. In 1981, Evergreen hired Pat Labine as its first permanent farm faculty member. In 1982, the tree removal process began which required many different meetings from DTFs and stakeholders at Evergreen. It drew public interest and comment from the Evergreen community, including articles in the CPJ. It wasn't until 1985 that the tree clearing was approved and took place.

Student-led Organic Farm projects have included the construction of the Farmhouse, the design for the Sustainable Agriculture Lab, orchard expansion, the compilation of the Organic Farm history, the installation of a Food Forest. Places like the herb garden are maintained by the Herb Medicine Club.

Currently, the Organic Farm is a USDA-certified organic farm that also acts as a learning laboratory for Evergreen students in the Practices of Organic Farming (POF) program. It produces vegetables, fruit, eggs, chickens, flowers, herbs, and plant starts which it sells at its farm stand. The Organic Farm has also housed beehives.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Materials relating to the history and operation of the Organic Farm on The Evergreen State College campus. Consists of budgets; crop plans; CSA newsletters and brochures; memos about farm operations; soil analyses; projects such as the greenhouse and Demeter's shed and the herb garden; the tree cutting controversy; reorganization of staff; as well as animal care information, proposals, and several student projects relating specifically to the running of the Organic Farm.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1 Agricultural Sustainability Through Proper Soil Recycling 2000
1 "Aquaculture: Summary and Proposal for the Organic Farm, TESC" 1995
1 Agricultural Farmland Loss in Puget Sound Region 1998
1 Animal Care Information 2006
1 Animal Finances 2004-2005
1 Biennial Plan for Organic Farm 1981-1983
1 Biocides Undated
1 Biodiesal Processor Manual 2004
1 Blueprints Undated
1 "Breeding Open-Pollinated Buttercup Squash" 2005-2007
1 Building Design 2009-2010
1 Community Farm Proposal 1971
1 Composting Club 2004
1 Composting - Design Info 2000
1 Composting Facility Briefing Packet 2000
1 Composting history and proposals 1999
1 Composting Material 2005
1 Composting Material 2012-2013
2 Crop Plan 2003
2 Crop Plan 2004
2 Crop Plan 2005
2 Crop Plan 2006
2 Crop Plan 2007
2 Crop Plan 2010
2 Crop Plan 2012
2 Crop Plans/rotations 2007-2010
2 Crop and Seed Info Undated
2 CSA Newsletters and Brochures 2007
2 CSA Newsletters 2009
2 CSA Newsletters and Brochures 2010
2 CSA Newsletters and Brochures 2010
2 CSA Program Material 2011
2 CSA Newsletters and Brochure 2012
3 CSA Program Material 2012
3 Curriculum Planning 1973-1976
3 Early Organic Farm Material 1971
3 Early Organic Farm Materials 1976-1978
3 Ecological Agriculture at Evergreen 1984
3 Environmental Impact Statement 1976
3 Demeter's Garden & Tool Shed 2006-2009
3 Farm Board Material 1979-1981
3 Farm Board Material 1980-1984
3 Farm Budget 1984-1985
3 Farm Budget 1984-1985
3 Farm Budget 1986-1987
3 Farm Budget 1989-1990
3 Farm Budget 1989-1990
4 Farm Budget 1990-1991
4 Farm Budget 1992
4 Farm Budget 1992
4 Farm Budgets 1993-1996
4 Farm Budget 1991-2002
4 Farm Budgets 2004-2006
4 Farm Development Memos 1971
4 Farm history notebook 2010
4 Farmers Market Nutrition Program 2008-2010
4 Farm Procedures 0000
4 Farm Reorganization 1984-1985
4 Farm Reorganization 1985-1989
4 Fertilizer and Crop Production Aids Record 2004
4 Food Processing License 2007
4 Food Processing License 2006-2010
4 Friends of the Farm 1974-1975
4 Funding for Organic Farm Building Project 1975
4 Guidelines for Restoration Ecology Projects 1993
4 Greenhouse 1978-1985
4 Herb Garden Plans 2003-2013
4 History of the Organic Farm 1980
5 Info from Betsie for New Manager 2003
5 Inventory of Garage & Seed Storage 2004
5 Institutions on Care for Fruits Newly Planted 2005
5 Lacey Marked Material 2008
5 Maps Undated
5 Memoranda and Farm 1972-1981
5 Memos 1982
5 Organic Farm Condition Report 2003
5 Organic Farm Contract 1973-1974
5 Organic Farm Cookbook 2004
5 Organic Farm Early Plans & Evaluations 1970
5 Organic Food Program - New Organic Processor Checklist 2004
5 Organic Gardening Group Contract Material 1978
5 Outreach Materials Undated
5 Pest Management 1989
5 Pig Information 2012
5 Potting Soil Analysis 2005
5 Practice of Sustainable Agriculture - Plant Disease 2003
5 Preliminary Proposal for Organic Farm circa 1975
5 Rhizotron Project 2004
5 Sales to Bon Appetit 2002-2004
5 Soil Analysis - Organic Farm 2003
5 Status on Proposed Farmhouse 1974
6 Squash Research 2008
6 "The Transesterification of Used Vegetable Oil" Project 1998
6 Title I - Evaluation Grant 1973-1974
6 Tomato Pruning & Support Undated
6 Tree Cutting Controversy 1983-1984
6 Tree Cutting Controversy 1983-1984
6 Tree Cutting Controversy 1983-1984
6 Tree Cutting Controversy (Soil & Water Conservation Plan) 1984
6 Urban Farms: An Evaluation Framework for Alternative Academic Programs 1995
6 Western WA Spring Wheat Trails 2008
7 Photographs Undated
7 Slides Undated
8 Operational handbook: bees 2009-2011
8 Operational handbook: draft horses 2011
8 Operational handbook: ducks 2010
8 Operational handbook: herbal project 2005
8 Operational handbook: integrated pest management 2007
8 Operational handbook: livestock 2009-2010
8 Operational handbook: mason bees 2011
8 Operational handbook: master goat 0000
8 Operational handbook: milk 2011
8 Operational handbook: pigs 2009
8 Operational handbook: pigs and soil 2012
8 Operational handbook: pole barn and insectary 2011
8 Operational handbook: PSA 2005
8 Operational handbook: PSA 2006
8 Operational handbook: PSA 2007
8 Operational handbook: PSA 2007
8 Operational handbook: Vermicompost 1998

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top