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Ullem Campus Farm

Students posing together with a thank you sign at the Ullem Farm

Check out the 2019 Ullem Farm Report here!
Vegetables grown at the Ullem Farm

Check out the 2018 Ullem Farm report here!

Ullem Campus Farm

Planting Seeds

A student smiles as he plants seeds into a plastic seed tray. His hands are covered in soil and his classmates fill the background.

Campus Farm Greenhouse

The farm greenhouse sits on the left side of the photo with a walnut tree on the right. A light, morning sun shines through the trees.

Moving Silage Tarps

A group of students stand around a black silage tarp in the farm field on bare soil, learning how to move the tarp.

The DePauw Ullem Campus Farm offers exciting opportunities for students to engage in real-life applications of sustainable agriculture and environmentally friendly land use. Student interns and volunteers use organic practices to provide fresh and healthy produce for campus dining.

Sustainable Farming Practices

The Ullem Campus Farm strives to teach students about food and agriculture through sustainable, low-impact farming methods. Watch the farm documentary to see just how impactful the Campus Farm is on DePauw's campus, produced by Tilly Marlatt '19.

  • Chemical-free farming: The farm follows the USDA's organic farming recommendations by avoiding the use of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers. Crop rotation, hand weeding, integrated pest management, companion planting, cover crops and organic compost limit weeds and pests without using harmful chemicals.
  • No-Till Production: The process of land preparation is primarily non-mechanized and uses:
    • Polyethylene tarps to integrate cover crops, kill weed seeds, promote worm activity and create mulch.
    • A broadfork for soil aeration.
    • Hand tools for planting and weeding.
    • A two-wheeled BCS tractor that mows and prepares beds while preserving soil structure
  • Water conservation: Drip-tape irrigation gives plants a direct source of water to their roots rather than their leaves, reducing evaporation and water usage.

Engagement Opportunities

Each season, the Ullem Campus Farm welcomes hundreds of students, volunteers and visitors who come as members of sports teams, service scholarships and classes. Members of the Sustainability Leadership Program's campus farm group work in the field and greenhouse, visit local producers and host community and school groups. Additionally, farm interns engage in all aspects of operating a small-scale production farm and undertake personalized projects such as vermicomposting, hydroponics, and beekeeping. Students, staff, alumni and community members are encouraged to contact sustainability@depauw.edu to learn more!

Spring 2023 Farm Days:

Farm Days are an intentionally structured time for anyone to volunteer on the farm, meet new people, and build community. Sustainability Staff will be there to guide you! The Spring 2023 dates are February 15th, March 22nd, April 12th & 19th, and May 3rd. Volunteering begins at 4:30, but stop by and join at any time until 6:30.

Open Volunteer Hours:

Monday 3-6, Wednesday 9-12, Thursday 9-12 & 3-6, Friday 9-12 Please email sustainability@depauw.edu to schedule a group work day or different volunteer time.

By The Numbers

  • 85% of the farm’s yield is sold to DePauw’s dining services, Bon Appetit, to be turned into meals at Hoover Dining Hall. This gives students, faculty, staff, and community members access to locally grown produce all season long.
  • More than 26,000 pounds of produce have been harvested by students since 2018.
  • The 12-acre property features a three-acre crop field, greenhouse, wash and pack facility, two hoop houses, experimental growing plots, bee hives, and the Ullem Center for Sustainability.