The circle garden stands open on Sept. 24 on the OHIO Student Farm’s property. The garden was built in 1979 and originally stood alone on the vast area of land that is now the Student Farm. “It used to be a community garden for people to grow whatever they wanted as long as they upkept it, until our interest grew and we began having interns,” Original Farm Manager Art Trese said.
OHIO Student Farm Manager Tony Noble weeds a large portion of the farm alongside student volunteers, Josephine Boesger and Paige Dalton on Sept. 24. The farm’s many areas take a tremendous amount of around-the-clock work as Noble works every day 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. while student volunteers come in and out each day as well as retired Farm Manager Art Trese who works on the farm whenever he has free time. “My typical week starts with contacting customers about produce availability, scheduling volunteers, and planning out harvest,” Noble said. “The rest of my week is an assortment of farm tours, hosting classes, coordinating workers, short- and long-term planning, and collaboration with other farm leaders.”
Original Farm Manager Art Trese poses for a portrait in the OHIO Student Farm’s fields on Sept. 24. Trese has worked on farms and gardens since he was 8 years old and began managing the farm around 25 years ago; he continues to volunteer by working on the farm during his free time. “By the time I was born there was already 10 kids, so I was always hungry,” Trese said. “I don’t think I’ve ever lived anywhere without a farm or garden.”
On Sept. 24, Carter Limber eats a raspberry while he harvests them during his volunteer hours at the OHIO Student Farm. Volunteers are encouraged and welcome to eat anything they are harvesting while they work. “We are a strictly organic farm, so are not allowed to use pesticides or anything harmful on our crops or land,” Trese said.
Farm Manager Tony Noble harvests peppers on Sept. 30 at the OHIO Student Farm. The crops grown at the farm are sold to various local vendors such as Cats Cupboard, Kindred Market and even a weekly stand in the Grover building. “I once had a woman reach out to me from a small business in Columbus,” Noble said. “She came down for a tour of the farm the next week and immediately bought boxes and boxes of produce from us, I was so excited that she even knew we existed.”
On Sept. 24, student volunteers Bryan IaGuardia and Chloe Oldaker ask questions to farm manager Tony Noble as he teaches them how to look for the right crops to harvest. Professors of the sustainable agriculture course require their students to work at least 10 hours on the Student Farm. “Because this is an educational farm, showing, explaining and including students in the farm work is a high priority for me,” Noble said.
Student members of the plant biology club walk out of the circle garden at the OHIO Student Farm after a small meeting on Sept. 18. The farm offers internship opportunities for students that began in 2015 under Art Trese’s management. “We were able to use some of the money from selling our produce along with fund from the College of Arts and Sciences to give stipends to student interns in order for them to work over the summer,” Trese said. “The program went great; however, the University has not given us a penny since.”
On Sept. 30, Farm Manager Tony Noble and a sustainable agriculture student sort peppers to sell at their produce stand in Grover. The farm grows an array of crops from peppers to potatoes, and berries. “The farm is important to me because I love to teach practical skills that will enhance students’ careers as well as their everyday lives,” Noble said. “Those skills range from botany to business to health, fitness and more.”
Art Trese holds up a blackberry as he picks several for a snack after a long day of weeding on Sept. 25. Due to the fact that the Student Farm is all organic, they cannot use any weedkiller sprays, so Trese often weeds the land in his free time. “We originally only had raspberry plants, but my son always preferred blackberries so I built this bush for him,” Trese said.
Art Trese and Tony Noble look over the fields as they try to figure out how mushrooms have begun to grow in their gated garden. The farm is split into several sections, including one large outdoor field, two tented greenhouses and several smaller gardens. “My biggest hope is that the farm gains enough funding to continue so I can continue to grow the farm with my farming practices,” Noble said.
A glove and horseshoe lay on a picnic table at the OHIO Student Farm on Sept. 18. The farm is worked on by an array of people and accepts student volunteers from any and all majors. “I’m a medical student and today is my first day visiting,” Christiana Donatelli said. “I heard about through an article in The Post and figured why not. It’s been so much fun so far.”
On Sept. 30, Farm Manager Tony Noble walks out of the field with a basket of peppers he picked. Noble has been working on the OHIO Student Farm for 15 months and has been a college farm manager for seven years. “The farm has allowed me to work outside using skills I’ve gained as an engineer, urban planner, cook and teacher,” Noble said. “I love teaching people how to grow and use food.”