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Sharing experiences with like-minded friends is an important part of college life. This past summer, a special sustainable living and learning community at UConn’s Spring Manor Farm afforded students an opportunity to share their interest in the environment, while growing organic produce that they sold at local farmers’ markets and to Dining Services on campus.

An extension of UConn’s living and learning communities, where students with similar majors or interests can chose to live together in a residence hall during the academic year, the farm – which the participants renamed Spring Valley Farm – provided students with an opportunity to ‘walk the walk’ in regards to sustainable living.

Coordinated by horticulture major Matt Oricchio ’10, the students who worked at the farm this summer will be mentoring a new crop of undergraduates this fall though classes and field work. In particular, approximately 130 students involved with the EcoHouse community will be introduced to the farm.