Horticulture at WKU

Our Farm-to-Campus program, launched in October of 2022, is made up of a production area at the Farm that features informational signs that serve as a guided tour for students and visitors looking to further their knowledge of new sustainable techniques and equipment used in cultivation. This program was developed with the idea of incorporating sustainable practices that allow students to learn exactly where their food comes from and how it's produced. Most of the harvested produce will be delivered to Fresh Food Company in the Downing Student Union on campus and the excess volume will be sold in the WKU Farm Market or in community-supported agriculture programs. WKU is unique in this process by being the first university in Kentucky to offer meat and dairy products in addition to vegetables. From seed to harvest, students gain hands-on experience and knowledge of food production and safety while fulfilling orders for campus.

These are a total of four high tunnels used for vegetable production and approximately one-third of an acre dedicated to field production. One of the high tunnels was upgraded to include artificial heat allowing for year-round production. Consistently grown fruit and vegetable crops include broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, peppers, squash, zucchini, strawberries, watermelon, and cantaloupe.

The Farm is home to three different greenhouse structures, each accessible by students and each consisting of different structural materials including polycarbonate panels, UV-resistant polyethylene film, and glass panels. This variety of materials allows students to experience plant production under different growing conditions. The greenhouses are utilized primarily to grow ornamental plants.

Students are able to participate in flower and bedding plant production through greenhouse labs for courses such as Greenhouse Production and Greenhouse Maintenance and Operations. These labs focus primarily on the germination, propagation, and management of ornamental plants. The plants produced during lab sessions will be cared for until the annual spring greenhouse sale that takes place at the Farm.  Students work at the annual sale, and all proceeds are distributed back to the Department of Agriculture and Food Science. This is an excellent opportunity for students to be able to see the production aspect from the plug stage to the actual sale made at the end.

Along with providing vegetables to campus, the Farm also supplies annuals to be used on campus grounds. This farm-to-campus partnership allows students to see their work showcased for their peers to appreciate around campus. Commonly produced plants in these facilities include pansies, delphiniums, snapdragons, geraniums, rudbeckia, and petunias, as well as various succulents and houseplants.