Sustainable Development

The Sustainable Development Teaching and Research Farm is a place where we build community knowledge, practice sustainable production and management methods, and share in efforts to conserve the land, biodiversity, and culture of our region. The Farm is located in neighboring Ashe County. The farm is a living laboratory where multiple Sustainable Development classes are held throughout the year.  Students are able to immerse themselves in our local landscape and to learn collectively about the holistic nature of sustainable farming and forestry. 

The Farm includes a heritage garden, an apple, paw-paw, pear, cherry, and a hybrid Chestnut research orchard, diverse vegetable operations in the field and in greenhouses, fungi culture practices, seed saving practices, sustainable forest management initiatives, and so much more.  Students help to produce food that is donated to the Campus Food Pantry and to the Boone Hunger and Health Coalition. Seeds saved from our historic heirloom crops are packaged and donated to the Ashe and Watauga Seed Libraries for community use.

Several years ago, the Sustainable Technology (STBE) program and the ASU Renewable Energy Initiative installed photovoltaic and thermal solar panels on the resident farm manager’s house, making it almost completely solar-powered. Sustainable technology is integrated with sustainable agricultural methods practiced in the fields and forests. Collaborations between STBE faculty and ASU Dining Services resulted in the installation of a high-performance greenhouse at the farm. We have many collaborations with departments and programs across campus, including Nutrition, Nursing, Art, the Honors College, and ROTC, among others.