UMD’s annual Farm Fest is happening this weekend, Saturday, September 14, from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. The free event takes place at UMD’s Farm, 3568 Riley Road.
Organizers say their goal is to promote ecological justice and sustainable farming in the Twin Ports.
A free lunch featuring produce from the farm is being prepared by UMD Catering. The Duluth Children’s Museum is bringing gigantic building blocks for children’s activities, and a farmers market with local venders is being set up for guests to shop local. KUMD and the Duluth group Jacob Mahon and the Salty Dogs are providing music for the event.
UMD students who empower the farm operations are volunteering at Farm Fest.
This is the seventh year that UMD has hosted Farm Fest.
About the UMD Farm
The UMD Farm is a 30-acre Sustainable Agriculture Project at the Land Lab, a landscape-scale classroom about five miles from UMD. It’s managed by the Department of Geography and Philosophy and the College of Liberal Arts."
Farm manager Cole Grotting says it’s a centerpiece of campus sustainability efforts, producing tons of organic produce this year, most of which is delivered to UMD Dining Services. “Fresh, healthy, local produce is infused into the University’s food system through this partnership.”
“We’re thrilled to be able to offer resources for faculty, students, and community members,” adds professor and Land Lab team member Teresa Bertossi.
Bertossi says the purpose of the UMD Land Lab is to explore how to create a food system that meets the needs of all community residents, and to serve as an incubator for community and university interaction with the Northland’s natural systems.
She describes the Land Lab as a hub for research and action that links agricultural production with food justice and food sovereignty, and a space where students and community members engage in active learning based on the unique ecology of Northeast Minnesota.
“In a region with high rates of economic inequality and homelessness, along with a changing climate, the UMD Land Lab asks, ‘How can we ensure that our food system is resilient enough to meet the needs of all community residents?” says Adam Pine, Chair of the department of Geography & Philosophy and also part of the Land Lab leadership team.
More information about the Land Lab