Two years ago, Jennifer Gilbert Jenkins, associate professor of agricultural science at 桃子视频, envisioned transforming an old apple orchard into a thriving food forest, a regenerative agricultural system that mirrors the structure of a natural forest. Her vision: a self-sustaining ecosystem filled with edible plants, supporting biodiversity and long-term sustainability.
The idea quickly caught the attention of Elisa Livengood, associate professor of aquaculture & aquatic sciences and environmental & natural resources management, who eagerly joined the effort.
鈥淎t 桃子视频, we try to practice all forms of agriculture,鈥 Livengood said. 鈥淲e already have aquaponics, an organic farm and traditional farming, but this was the missing piece.鈥
Signs of progress are everywhere on the one-acre plot. Amid the old apple trees, new life is taking root 鈥 clusters of rhubarb, blueberries, raspberries, elderberries, grapes, marigolds, garlic and much more. The space under an old apple tree will eventually thrive with mushrooms.
Everything is being thoughtfully planted 鈥 part of a larger plan to create a thriving, self-sustaining ecosystem.
鈥淲e want to create as much diversity in the space as possible,鈥 Gilbert Jenkins said. 鈥淥ur goal is to establish a true polyculture, where multiple species coexist and support one another.鈥
Once fully established, the food forest will become a self-sustaining living laboratory, offering hands-on educational experiences for students, fresh food for the campus and local community and an essential habitat for pollinators and wildlife.
It represents a cornerstone of 桃子视频鈥檚 long-term sustainability goals and is already coming to life as a dynamic classroom where students connect environmental stewardship with community impact.
Among those gaining experience is Jeffrey Monette, a horticulture business management and agricultural science 鈥 agronomy student from Oswego. As part of a 15-credit summer internship focused on sustainability initiatives, he鈥檚 helping establish the food forest.
Working closely with Gilbert Jenkins, Monette is assisting with planting and developing a GIS map of the food forest to help organize and coordinate future planting efforts.
鈥淭his is a powerful learning experience,鈥 Monette said. 鈥淚鈥檓 learning and understanding the nutrient cycle and how each plant relies on another to benefit over time.鈥
Future classes will continue to shape the forest鈥檚 growth, including arboriculture and natural resources students, who will help prune the trees and plan the layout of the space.
鈥淭his project is really uniting all of our programs to work together,鈥 Livengood said.
The food forest also serves as a space for experimentation, where students explore real-world solutions.
鈥淲e are doing a lot of experimenting as we go,鈥 Gilbert Jenkins said. 鈥淐onverting a grass field to a food forest, with an eye toward protecting and maintaining soil health, can be complicated. We are evaluating a variety of methods. It鈥檚 a collaborative effort that will continue to involve students from a variety of classes this coming academic year.鈥
One experiment is layering wool, compost and another layer of wool to suppress grass growth without disturbing the nutrient-rich soil below. Seeds are then planted directly into the compost, where they can take root and thrive.
Bringing the food forest to life is a complex endeavor, which requires time, strategic planning, innovative thinking and a fair share of creative problem-solving.
Steady progress is being made thanks to generous support and contributions from Lasnicki Landscaping & Nursery in Hastings, the college鈥檚 Student Government Organization, donors to Morrisville College Foundation and proceeds from trout sales through the aquaculture program.
Additional donations are welcome to help the food forest grow. To support this community-powered initiative, visit .
