Students at the Xavier Urban Farm began farming their plot in 2012. About 50% of the farm is currently in production, growing a wide variety of fruits and herbs, including potatoes, tomatoes, beets, green beans, carrots, squash, zucchini, green onions, kale, garlic, cucumbers, kohlrabi, and more.
College: Xavier University
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Size: 1/4 acre (approximately 10,890 square feet)
Sales and distribution: Students sell to the community through farmers markets and to the cafe at Xavier. Each Sunday, students hold a CSA pickup for members of Bellermine church, located in the center of campus. Excess produce is donated to a local food bank. In the future, students are hoping to sell to businesses in the Cincinnati area and build a local CSA.
Management structure: Xavier Urban Farm is a student-run business. A team of four students work together to manage all aspects of the farm, with guidance from university and community advisers.
Financial model: The hoop house, raised beds, and soil brought in were funded by Xavier University’s Office of Sustainability. The farm is a student-run business of Xavier’s Student-Run Business (SRB) Program, through which students are tasked with developing a proposal that details all operational costs for their first year. They were approved by the SRB board and provided with a budget to manage the farm on a year-by-year basis.
Learn more: Please contact [email protected]