Urban Ag Update and video
Urban Agriculture Program Update - Fall 2023
SES Urban Agriculture Program Celebrates 10 Years
The School of Environmental Sustainability's Urban Agriculture Program is celebrating 10 years since its founding. The program includes a team of interns, student team leaders, and SES staff working together to produce food using sustainable agriculture methods. Since the program's inception, over 20,000 pounds of sustainably grown, healthy produce and food items have been harvested and distributed in our community, and more than 600 students have benefitted from a transformative educational experience.
The program has grown dramatically since its launch in 2013, which coincided with the construction of the building that houses the school and the Greenhouse Lab. Kevin Erickson, senior sustainable agriculture manager, recounted the program's founding.
Kevin Erickson, senior sustainable agriculture manager, recounted the program's founding.
"Before the Urban Agriculture Program, we had a small garden at Winthrop Garden, which a group of students in our Solutions to Environmental Problems (STEP) Foods course started. At that time, we also had a working farm at the Loyola University Retreat and Ecology Campus (LUREC), and the Loyola Farmers Market was operational. So the Urban Agriculture Program was able to expand quickly with an on-campus farmers market and garden space that were previously operational."
We built an aquaponics system in 2013, the same year the SES building and Greenhouse Lab were constructed. This system produces both plants and fish. Then, in 2017, we started doing mushroom research using a small tent. In 2020, we developed this into a mushroom production program and eventually added new grow tents and lab space for prep work and inoculations. The mushroom program now produces more than different mushroom strains and has been focusing on utilizing waste products such as coffee waste to reduce production inputs."
"In 2022, we started the hydroponics system using equipment donated by Rise Gardens. We are now expanding this area to add a second hydroponics production area for lettuce."
"Over the past 10 years, the Urban Agriculture Program has supported over 250 internships and paid student positions. We've harvested and distributed over 30,00 pounds of campus-grown produce to local food pantries, farmers markets, and restaurants. Many former interns have developed careers in agriculture and food systems."
“Since 2013, The Urban Ag program has continued to provide food for local farmers' markets and restaurants. Community members can purchase our fruits, vegetables, herbs, mushrooms, and fish at the Edgewater Farmers Market and Archie's Café. Today, the program also plays an important role in feeding community members in need by serving local food pantries. Those in need can obtain free food items through the Loyola student food pantry and the St. Thomas Food Pantry in Uptown. This renewed distribution focus allows us to play a bigger role in creating a more equitable and resilient food system in our community."
Check out the video above or view it on our YouTube channel to learn more about the program and see students discuss recent activities.
-- Article and video by Michael Chopra
SES Urban Agriculture Program Celebrates 10 Years
The School of Environmental Sustainability's Urban Agriculture Program is celebrating 10 years since its founding. The program includes a team of interns, student team leaders, and SES staff working together to produce food using sustainable agriculture methods. Since the program's inception, over 20,000 pounds of sustainably grown, healthy produce and food items have been harvested and distributed in our community, and more than 600 students have benefitted from a transformative educational experience.
The program has grown dramatically since its launch in 2013, which coincided with the construction of the building that houses the school and the Greenhouse Lab. Kevin Erickson, senior sustainable agriculture manager, recounted the program's founding.
Kevin Erickson, senior sustainable agriculture manager, recounted the program's founding.
"Before the Urban Agriculture Program, we had a small garden at Winthrop Garden, which a group of students in our Solutions to Environmental Problems (STEP) Foods course started. At that time, we also had a working farm at the Loyola University Retreat and Ecology Campus (LUREC), and the Loyola Farmers Market was operational. So the Urban Agriculture Program was able to expand quickly with an on-campus farmers market and garden space that were previously operational."
We built an aquaponics system in 2013, the same year the SES building and Greenhouse Lab were constructed. This system produces both plants and fish. Then, in 2017, we started doing mushroom research using a small tent. In 2020, we developed this into a mushroom production program and eventually added new grow tents and lab space for prep work and inoculations. The mushroom program now produces more than different mushroom strains and has been focusing on utilizing waste products such as coffee waste to reduce production inputs."
"In 2022, we started the hydroponics system using equipment donated by Rise Gardens. We are now expanding this area to add a second hydroponics production area for lettuce."
"Over the past 10 years, the Urban Agriculture Program has supported over 250 internships and paid student positions. We've harvested and distributed over 30,00 pounds of campus-grown produce to local food pantries, farmers markets, and restaurants. Many former interns have developed careers in agriculture and food systems."
“Since 2013, The Urban Ag program has continued to provide food for local farmers' markets and restaurants. Community members can purchase our fruits, vegetables, herbs, mushrooms, and fish at the Edgewater Farmers Market and Archie's Café. Today, the program also plays an important role in feeding community members in need by serving local food pantries. Those in need can obtain free food items through the Loyola student food pantry and the St. Thomas Food Pantry in Uptown. This renewed distribution focus allows us to play a bigger role in creating a more equitable and resilient food system in our community."
Check out the video above or view it on our YouTube channel to learn more about the program and see students discuss recent activities.
-- Article and video by Michael Chopra