New Jersey university launches regenerative organic farm

A new organic, regenerative farm operation is taking root at Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey. Assistant Teaching Professor Cynthia Hall, who teaches in the departments of Geography, Planning & Sustainability and Environmental Science within the School of Earth & Environment, is working to create a sustainable farm operation with the help of Corianne Tatariw, Ph.D., in the Department of Environmental Science and Hiew Nguyen, Ph.D., in the Department of Mathematics.

On the university’s west campus, Hall is growing a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and nuts, and she hopes to soon have chickens and goats. Tatariw is analyzing soil conditions, while Nguyen’s drones are surveilling the crops and growing environment.

Hall and her student workers plant in a variety of ways, from raised beds to crops sewn directly into the soil, where rows of plants are separated by, and insulated with, layers of straw to minimize weeds and keep the ground cool and moist.

Hall expects the one-acre farm to produce a healthy crop this fall and provide bountiful lessons for years to come. “This is a demonstrative farm site, a training ground, a way for us to show by example how much you can grow in small spaces,” she said. “The whole point is to be regenerative. Everything we do is intentional, so we’re not wasteful, not even with water.”

Rowan University’s efforts reflect the growing trend of U.S. colleges and universities offering regenerative agriculture projects and programs to meet increasing demand.

Source: Rowan University

To view source article, visit:

https://today.rowan.edu/news/2025/09/new-growth-regenerative-farm-sprouts-on-rowans-west-campus.html

Organic & Non-GMO Insights October 2025