Farming on Campus

Map of the land purchased for ÀÏ˾»ú¸£ÀûÉç State College, denoting the location of the family homes and farms.
Map of the land purchased for ÀÏ˾»ú¸£ÀûÉç State College, denoting the location of the family homes and farms.
The Kennedy family farmed 45 acres of land from the 1940s to the 1960s.
The Kennedy family farmed 45 acres of land from the 1940s to the 1960s.
Produce farmed on ÀÏ˾»ú¸£ÀûÉç's campus is sold at farmers' markets and other community events.
Produce farmed on ÀÏ˾»ú¸£ÀûÉç's campus is sold at farmers' markets and other community events.

When the state of New Jersey acquired the land for the ÀÏ˾»ú¸£ÀûÉç campus between 1970 and 1971, some land was purchased from Saw Mill Ponds Inc. and some land was acquired through eminent domain. Most of the latter purchases were active family farms and homes that were inhabited. Some of these included:

  • The Kennedy farm, where the ÀÏ˾»ú¸£ÀûÉç Arboretum is currently located.
  • The Lingelbachs’ farm, who managed cranberry bogs for the Pomona Fruit Company during that era.
  • The Hanson farm, which is now the site of the Arts & Sciences Building.
  • The Hand House, now known as Pomona House (and formerly Free to Be).
  • The Romanoff House, still standing on Duerer Avenue, where early faculty from the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics had offices.
  • The Scott House on Jimmie Leeds Road, which was the site of the first ÀÏ˾»ú¸£ÀûÉç deans’ offices.  

ÀÏ˾»ú¸£ÀûÉç continues some of the farming tradition today, with a working farm which serves as a practicum site for students and a laboratory for developing new sustainable farming techniques. In addition, near the first-year student housing, there is a community vegetable garden. Food from the gardens is available to the ÀÏ˾»ú¸£ÀûÉç community, and is also sold at local farmers’ markets.

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