Image Credit: Edwin Remsberg
Nestled between dormitories, sports arenas and classroom buildings, the campus farm serves as a constant, nostalgic nod to the University of Maryland’s roots as an agricultural college. Now, the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (AGNR) is hoping to make the unique piece of property an integral part of the university’s future.
The College of AGNR has hired Blackburn Architects to develop a Master Plan to revitalize the Campus Farm into a teaching lab of the future. That Master Plan will be unveiled to the public on December 5 at the Riggs Alumni Center at 6:30 p.m. in order to garner feedback, suggestions and support.
“The University of Maryland is one of the few landgrant universities that has a farm on campus,” says Brian Magness, Director of Development for the College of AGNR. “Many are located off-campus. It’s a very unique advantage to have our farm directly across the street from our department building.”
The campus farm has not seen a major renovation in at least 30 years but the goal of the Campus Farm Project is to create an ideal teaching lab for the next generation. That will include revising the layout of the 4.5 acre property and updating the buildings in order to shape the most conducive learning environment possible.
“The facilities are sufficient, but not efficient. We want to be able to teach students the latest in farming,” says Farm Manager Crystal Caldwell.
In addition to a new layout, the farm may see a slew of new, innovative technologies to efficiently use its resources. “We’re looking into a lot of sustainable technologies – solar panels, green roofs, green walls, water harvesting (a system to collect and reuse rain water), and a bio digester (a system that uses methane gas produced by manure to generate power),” Magness illustrates.
Although the campus farm is alive and kicking, the Campus Farm Project has the potential to make it a significant draw for potential students in the Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, as well as tourists. Even for those students who are not part of UMD’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the project is an opportunity to give UMD a fresh look.
“We hope the renovation will also give us a nice view, maybe give us more green space on campus, and help the college become more visible and more compelling. Imagine seeing the new farm when walking back from a basketball game!” says Magness.
If you’d like to learn more about plans for the campus farm of the future and find out how you can help make it a reality, you’re invited to attend the upcoming event:
Campus Farm Master Plan
Public Presentation
Wednesday, December 5
6:30 p.m.
Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center
Light refreshments will be served.
To register, please email agnrevents@umd.edu or call Daphne Stanley at 301-405-2128.
