Materials are developed for educational purposes.
The Loyola Project, sponsored by Brophy College Prep, teaches urban children about gardening.
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One plot of the garden is being used as a demonstration of compost. Four rows have been treated with compost, four rows have not. The children have planted radishes, lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower. Throughout the growing season, the children will observe differences between the composted and non composted rows. Observations will include germination rates, size, taste, etc. |
Children, from preschool to high school, and adults, from Arizona to Slovakia, come to Sunfresh Farms to learn about environmentally sound agriculture. One stop on the educational tour is the compost windrows. Here the guests are informed of the importance of organic matter to soil and the process of composting.
To publicize the efforts of Sunfresh Farms, the local media have highlighted the achievements of the farm in environmentally sound agriculture and education with special references to the compost project. Wild Side, on Channel 12, Copper State Chronicles and What’s Up, both on Channel 3, have each dedicated one segment of their show to Sunfresh Farms. In addition, several articles in local publications have focused on Sunfresh Farms with special mention of the composting project; including, September '96 issue of California / Arizona Farmer. In February '97, Successful Farming, published in Iowa, wrote a cover story on the educational programs at Sunfresh Farms with an emphasis on the compost project. Sunfresh Farms has won two awards, the Valley Forward Association Environmental Excellence Award and the Governor’s Pride in Arizona Award for Environmental Technology, for their environmental and educational programs, including the compost project.
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Arnnott Duncan speaks to group about the compost process. |
The AF-NR NRCD shares the results with local growers and other interested parties through tours and bulletins. Anyone interested in the project will find updated data available on this website. Information is also be shared with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service for use in the nutrient management program.
1. Presentation at a composting conference, 1997 (Mike
Moore)
2. Presentation at Arizona Association of Conservation Districts conference, 1997
(Kathy Killian, NRCD)
3. Presentation at Southwest Composting Conference, 1998 (Arnott Duncan)
4. Presentation at Southwest Composting Conference, 1998 (Kathy Killian)
5. Description in Agua Fria - New River NRCD annual report, 1997, and mailed to
over 300 people (NRCD)
6. Discussions with other agricultural producers interested in developing on-farm
composting programs (NRCD, Mike Moore, Arnott Duncan)
