Idaho is well-known as a farming state, and is very agriculturally diverse. At the University of Idaho and throughout the surrounding community of Moscow, there are multiple organizations that work to produce crops in a more efficient and sustainable way. There are many ways in which farming can be done that is better for the environment, such as getting rid of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, using less water, and decreasing waste of overproduction.
One of the farms owned by the University of Idaho is the Soil Stewards farm, operated by the Soil Stewards Club. They run a three-acre, fully-certified organic farm, eliminating the need for synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.
“We have a drip system, so that conserves a lot of water, as opposed to standard sprinklers,” Josie Waterskirchen, president of the club, said. “We also have a low till, so that reduces the overall erosion and keeps the soil structure better intact.”
The club hosts multiple events, some partnered with UI’s Student Sustainability Cooperative. One of their most popular events is their pumpkin festival held annually each fall. The club sells their produce weekly at farm stands during the summer, and partway into the fall semester. They also have community-supported agriculture boxes, which function as a vegetable subscription sold at affordable prices.
An issue that happens frequently with farming and gardening is accidental overproduction. This is when people grow more produce than they need. Often, the extra goes to waste, unused. Backyard Harvest is a non-profit organization that works to reduce this waste with their gleaning operations.
“When a farmer has extra produce, gleaning is going out and picking whatever is left,” Executive Director Beau Mosman said.
Certain people in the Moscow community aren’t able to afford to go to the Backyard Harvest’s Farmers Market. Whether transportation is the issue, or a lack of funds, Backyard Harvest’s initiatives are able to help these individuals. Due to the fact that the local vendors at farmers markets don’t typically accept SNAP benefits (previously known as food stamps), Backyard Harvest has created a system that allows people to still make purchases at farmers markets.
Photo Courtesy of Backyard Harvest
Backyard Harvest has a produce drop-off station in the summer located at Moscow Food Co-Op. Donators drop off their extra produce, and a Backyard Harvest employee is notified to retrieve the items. They work with over 40 different organizations throughout four counties to distribute the produce to places such as food banks for those in need. Another way that Backyard Harvest and similar organizations reduce waste is by not using packaging with their produce during distribution, which is more necessary for grocery stores to do.
During the summer, volunteers can sign up through their website for a gleaning event. These take place multiple times a week at different local farms. Volunteers are able to take home half of the produce they harvest and receive a free t-shirt.
Photo Courtesy of Backyard Harvest
If you have eaten in The Eatery, you most likely have seen the hydroponics towers. The leafy greens grown in the towers are bought by The Eatery from the Hydroponics Club and served onsite. The club has seven different systems on campus where they grow produce without soil. The plants are grown using a nutrient solution dissolved in a liquid. A main difference this creates is the need to monitor the PH level closely.
“They use less water and your inputs are more efficiently used for wasting less fertilizer,” Daniel Guillor, president of the club, said.
Photo Courtesy of the Hydroponics Club
A great benefit of hydroponics is their versatility to use anywhere. You are able to reduce fossil fuels necessary to transport produce if you are able to grow them close to where they will be consumed. They also grow much quicker than traditional soil-grown produce, which is a key factor in more efficient farming. Like other organizations here in Moscow, the Hydroponics Club grows their produce for the community. They sell their produce at winter markets, usually in the 1912 Center.
Whether they are small-scale operations or fully-functioning farms, these organizations have a great impact on creating better ways to grow and harvest crops in our community.