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Find Your Green Thumb at Campus Farm

Students, employees can learn about agriculture as volunteers

Part of the Sustainable Duke Series
Liz McInerney, a senior research aide at the Center for Child and Family Policy, tries to volunteer at the Duke Campus Farm once a month. All Duke community members are welcome to help at the one-acre farm to learn more about agriculture and how to grow
Liz McInerney, a senior research aide at the Center for Child and Family Policy, tries to volunteer at the Duke Campus Farm once a month. All Duke community members are welcome to help at the one-acre farm to learn more about agriculture and how to grow food. Photo courtesy of Liz McInerney.

As fresh blueberries and peaches show up at farmers markets on campus and in Durham, Duke community members are getting into the agricultural spirit.

That's the case with Liz McInerney, who once a month grabs a couple coworkers and spends time volunteering at the Duke Campus Farm, helping with planting, harvesting and more at Duke's own one-acre plot of land. McInerney has been offering her time at the farm since last September.

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"It's such an informal setting and a great way to relax," said McInerney, a senior research aide at the Center for Child and Family Policy. "I've always felt accepted when I've gone to volunteer, and I love the premise of the farm to not use pesticides or chemicals. You can tell everyone who works there really cares about what they do."

Any student, faculty or staff member is welcome to volunteer with the Duke Campus Farm, which holds community workdays from 6 to 8 p.m. every Sunday and Thursday until winter, when hours will adjust. Work may range from planting seeds to harvesting or small construction projects. No farming experience is necessary and people are always happy to teach about all things agriculture, said Emily Sloss, the farm's manager.

"Because we rely on volunteers, we're always excited to see new faces and teach anyone about how simple it can be to help," Sloss said. "It's fun to engage and learn with families and people of all age groups."

The fruit of volunteer labor can be seen at the Duke Farmers Market and Duke Mobile Farmers Market, where Sloss sells fresh produce from the Campus Farm each week. This spring, that included chard and a variety of other leafy green vegetables.

Currently, Sloss and farm volunteers are harvesting tomatoes, of which there are 350 plants at the Duke Campus Farm. Recent plantings have included sweet potatoes, and corn will soon be sprouting.

In addition to large crops, the farm also features its own herb garden, which is where McInerney has enjoyed working. After learning about how to maintain herbs like oregano, she decided to go out and buy her own herbs to grow.

"It's my new favorite thing, and I am by no means an expert," she said. "I really like working with herbs because they're small, manageable and you can take them with you wherever you go."

Students, faculty and staff are all welcome to volunteer at the Duke Campus Farm. For more information on workdays, visit the farm's website.