Terp Farm
Overview
We have our own vegetable farm! Terp Farm grows sustainable vegetables for Dining Services and Terps. The farm is located 15 miles from the College Park campus at the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (AGNR) Upper Marlboro facility. Terp Farm project hosts students for internships, classes, volunteering and fun.
Originally known as the Campus Tobacco Farm, the Central Maryland Research and Education Center – the Upper Marlboro facility is a 202 acre space focused on the development of alternative crops to replace tobacco in Maryland. Over 30 AGNR faculty members use the Upper Marlboro facility for their research, instructional and/or extension programs.
Dining Services, the AGNR and the Office of Sustainability partner to manage “Terp Farm,” a 2 acre plot dedicated by AGNR. Terp Farm grows vegetables year-round for campus dining halls, catering and the UMD Campus Pantry.
Work With Us!
Growing Practices
Terp Farm is a sustainable farming operation employing practices such as crop rotation, cover cropping, planting habitat for beneficial insects, and using organic fertilizers and pest controls. Terp Farm is a training ground for the next generation of sustainable farmers – for which this country is in desperate need. On-site support for Terp Farm comes from AGNR Research & Education Centers staff who provide technical expertise, while the Upper Marlboro facility shares infrastructure such as equipment, storage, utilities and meeting/office space.
Campus Collaboration
Students and faculty in the Department of Plant Sciences and Landscape Architecture (PSLA) utilize Terp Farm to enhance their learning experiences. PLSC433, Technology of Fruit and Vegetable Production, includes weekly laboratory visits to work with Farmer Guy Kilpatric producing crops for campus dining and donations. Specialists from PSLA serve as advisors to Terp Farm to assist with Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certification and promote food safety.
The Institute of Applied Agriculture (IAA) offers a Certificate in Sustainable Agriculture and Ms. Meredith Epstein, the program’s lead instructor, identifies ways for IAA students to find practical learning experiences at Terp Farm. The IAA also provides funding for one Terp Farm Student Summer Staff member.
Terp Farm received its initial funding from the Sustainability Fund. Supported by student fees and administered through a student-majority subcommittee of the University Sustainability Council, the fund provids for projects that promote environmental sustainability. The Office of Sustainability connects students and the campus community to ongoing Terp Farm projects.
Meet the Team
Terp Farm is managed by Dining Services – headed by Terp Farm Manager, Guy Kilpatric.
Each summer, Terp Farm hires a team of students to work on the farm to prepare for the fall harvest and the start of the academic year.
During the academic year, student in-class lab experiences and committed volunteerism sustain Terp Farm. Terp Farm serves as a hands-on learning center for students in AGNR.
The Terp Farm team is committed to sustainable agriculture, good food and the University of Maryland community!
Lend a Hand
Volunteer
Terp Farm partners with Terps For Change to provide additional volunteer opportunities. Volunteers commit to a semester of weekly community service. Terps For Change offers a wide array of community service sites (including Terp Farm) coupled with eight weekly dialogues where students reflect on and explore social issues related to service.
To apply, log into TerpLink and follow https://terplink.umd.edu/organization/campuspantry or email us at terpfarm@umd.edu.
Donate
We need your help to grow Terp Farm by supporting student interns and apprentices. By donating you will become a Friend of Terp Farm and receive a Terp Farm decal as a thank you for your contribution.