The market garden was established to study the conversion from conventional to organic farming practices for small scale vegetable production. The project compares a low versus high input approach to convert to organic production. The low input treatment consists of the application of green manure or cover crops as the sole method of fertilization. In addition the plots in this treatment will not be cropped in the first year of a three year transition period in an attempt to establish satisfactory soil fertility before the first plantings. The high input treatment consists of a once a year compost application in the spring before the growing season starts. A total of 32 plots measuring 16 by 50 feet have been established. Crops are on a four year rotation and include the following categories: legumes, leafy crops, cucurbits, and solanaceae. Each treatment consists of sixteen plots each with 4 replications of each rotation. The crops currently grown in each category in the rotation are:

Legumes: beans and peas

Leafy crops: spinach, romaine lettuce, and iceberg lettuce

Cucurbits: pumpkins and zucchini

Solanaceae: tomatoes and bell peppers

People

Dr. Verlinden, in collaboration with Dr. Bryan, Dr. Butler, Dr. d’Souza, Dr. Kotcon and Dr. McDonald, manages the market garden. Dr. Verlinden’s responsibilities are scheduling of crops, directing of proper maintenance of the research plots, and yield data collection and analysis.

The farm coordinator, Thomas P. Batchelor, is in charge of the day-to-day operation of the market garden including irrigation and supervision of student help.

Student help:

2001

Nicole Magee, intern

Norman Varnes

Andrea Fisher

2000

Catherine Simmons, intern

Rives Thornton

Jeffrey Slavensky