2011 Women in Sustainable Agriculture Conference
On November 6-8th, 2011, Dickinson Farm Director, Jenn Halpin, will present a workshop at the 2011 Women in Sustainable Agriculture Conference at Penn State University in State College, PA.
Several Dickinson Farm student workers will also participate in the conference.
To register, visit the conference website.
Jenn Halpin, Farm Manager and Director of the Dickinson College Farm
Production and Education on a Diversified Organic Farm
This
session will cover Jenn Halpin’s journey from part-time garden manager
to full-time director of the organic farm at Dickinson College in
Carlisle PA. Over ten years, Jenn slowly built a small educational
garden program into a productive and popular vegetable and livestock
farm. Jenn will describe how she translated the success of Dickinson’s
Student Garden to build support among the college administration for
expansion into a full time farm on 50 acres. Jenn will share success
stories of developing new infrastructure, securing grants, recruiting
faculty and student interest, building markets, and developing a
strategic plan for sustainable growth.
Jenn manages the production and educational farm for Dickinson College, a liberal arts institution located in South-Central PA. The main focus of the 50-acre farm program is to raise certified organic produce for the College dining hall, supplying the kitchen with 60% of its ingredient needs within the Pennsylvania growing season. The farm also maintains a Campus Supported Agriculture program, a thriving stand at Carlisle's producer-only market and works closely with area food banks to donate thousands of pounds of fresh vegetables during the growing season. Dickinson students work with Jenn to manage all aspects of the farm operation; from planting and harvesting crops to livestock management and community education programs. Jenn also works with faculty and students to create academic opportunities at the farm. Faculty utilize the farm as a venue for research, labs, class visits and as a resource for course development. Students make use of the farm for internships, independent research projects, and co-curricular activities.
Jenn serves as the Vice President of the Board of Directors for PASA. She is an active member of the Buy Fresh, Buy Local Campaign and board president of Farmers on the Square, a producer-only farmers market in Carlisle.