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Rows of small, green plants grow up from white, plastic sheeting inside the high tunnel

Fresh flowers flourish at campus farm

The campus farm, housed in the high tunnel, has been growing a plethora of flowers that were planted in October by students in the Farm Club and the PLANT220: Gardening for Fun and Profit class. Students were able to start to harvest some flowers as early as March.  

MONACA — Despite a cold and snowy winter and spring, students at Penn State Beaver were able to gather freshly grown flowers on campus thanks to the campus high tunnel.
 
The campus farm, housed in the high tunnel, has been growing a plethora of flowers that were planted in October by students in the Farm Club and the PLANT220: Gardening for Fun and Profit class. Students were able to start to harvest some flowers as early as March.
 
When the high tunnel was built in 2018, produce was grown in the 96-foot-long enclosure. Students harvested the produce to donate and to sell in CSA boxes on campus. 
 
“Over the past two years the student farm has had challenges in terms of its mission, its operations and with student engagement,” Assistant Professor of Biology Dr. Sarah Nilson said. 
 
To overcome those challenges, changes were made this academic year, and the students shifted from planting produce to hearty flowers that can grow during the cold weather in the high tunnel.  
 
“In addition to getting the Student Farm Club reestablished, we have been carefully considering when we plant to avoid producing in the summer months, when few students are one campus, and instead planning for April and October harvests,” Nilson said. “We have also been thinking about what we are growing and how we can have a more positive impact on students, the campus and the community. It has been a rough two years, so this spring we are focusing on cut flower production, since snapdragons are more likely to boost spirits than spinach.” 
 
The high tunnel was fully planted in October with cold, -hardy cut flower varieties that were started from seed in the biology greenhouse. Tulip and daffodil bulbs also were planted. The plants had time to get established in the fall, were dormant and over wintered, and will be harvested through May. 
 
“The student farm club will be harvesting these flowers, arranging bouquets, and donating them to the Allegheny Health Network Cancer Center in Center Township to give to patients when they come in for chemo or radiation treatment,” Nilson said. “One of our biology majors and student Farm Club members, Essence Simmons, coordinated this arrangement.” 
 
Nilson said the flowers also will be used for biology classes, campus events, Student Farm Club activities and possibly as decoration on campus. 
 
“We will not be having a CSA this spring, but we will be having bouquet sales to raise funds for the student farm,” Nilson said. “We are hoping to have these timed for Easter, Mother’s Day and graduation in addition to pop-up sales. One thing we’d like to use these funds for are is to purchase a refrigerator for Lion’s Pantry so that we can distribute student farm produce in the fall.” 
  
Students in PLANT 220 have been assisting with the cut flower production this spring and are also growing produce in the high tunnel for their own consumption.  
 
“I’ve been working with Agricultural Extension to bring this course in alignment with how it is run at University Park, with a focus on teaching students how to grow fruit, vegetables and flowers, ; design and maintain home landscapes; and generate income through small small-scale production of eggs, honey, mushrooms, cut flowers and produce,” Nilson said.  
 
“Plant PLANT 220 students will also be working with maintenance to design and plant a pollinator garden in the old water retention pond next to the basketball court,” she said. “The students will be growing native plants in the greenhouse to use for this garden.” 
 
Nilson said sustainability is important, so they are always looking for ways to improve farm practices to minimize waste. Some of these improvements are using composted leaves to boost organic matter of the soil, eliminating peat moss from the seed starting and transplanting processes, utilizing drip irrigation and organic fertilizers, and implementing integrated pest management in the greenhouse and high tunnel.   
 
“The student farm is here to serve the campus, and we can grow flowers, herbs and produce as needed for classes and events, with advance notice of course,” Nilson said. She said anyone with a specific request can reach out to her directly. 
 
The cut flower species for this spring are: 
  
    •    Snapdragons 
    •    Stocks 
    •    Dianthus 
    •    Saponaria 
    •    Icelandic poppies 
    •    Orlaya 
    •    Cynoglossum (forget-me-nots) 
    •    Nigella 
    •    Scabiosa 
    •    Bupleurum 
    •    Larkspur 
    •    Centaurea 
    •    Agrostemma 
    •    Ammi 
    •    Tulips 
    •    Daffodils