This season, farm managers and volunteers are installing two innovative food-producing systems at Dilmun Hill, Cornell’s student-run farm.
The first is a permanent raised bed system for annual crops that follows the contours of the sloping ground at the farm. Now that they’re established, the beds won’t require additional mechanical tillage, further reducing erosion at the site.
The second project is a perennial garden on a very steep slope. Using permaculture principles, Liz Camuti, one of the student farm managers, designed a system of swales to catch water that might otherwise run off. The area will be planted with a variety of fruit trees, berries and other crops.
Workshops at Dilmun Hill this year will explore techniques used for these projects, which are supported by the Towards Sustainability Foundation and the Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station.
Look for the Dilmun Hill farmstand on the Ag Quad later in June. Read more about projects at Dilmun Hill.
