Turnip the Beet: Dilmun Hill Student Farm
Dilmun Hill is a student-run organic vegetable farm that makes fresh produce accessible to the Cornell community and gives students the chance to learn about agriculture firsthand. It’s also one of my favorite things about Cornell, and my favorite APO service project.
The farm is right on campus, but it feels like a world away. It’s a magical little corner of the world where vegetables are growing everywhere you look, and the stresses of academic life fade to the background. Dilmun Hill provides students of all backgrounds the rare opportunity to try their hand at agriculture and learn more about where their food comes from. They host educational programs for Cornell students as well as local children’s groups. I’ve been volunteering at Dilmun since summer 2016, and I still learn something new every time I visit. Most importantly, I always leave feeling great about the work we’ve done.
Dilmun’s veggies are sold in CSA shares that students, faculty, and other community members can purchase seasonally. They also sell their produce at the farmer’s market on campus, and sometimes even in Mann library. With low prices compared to supermarkets and convenient on-campus locations, Dilmun Hill helps make fresh, local produce available for the campus community.
The farm is run by a team of student managers whose infectious passion really brings the place to life. They are always super grateful to have APO volunteers at their “work parties,” which are just that: a bunch of students having a blast and getting their hands dirty to support an awesome mission. Dilmun Hill has been one of the most rewarding parts of my Cornell experience. Come volunteer and see what it’s all about!
~ Julia Champagne
