The Tiger

With recent cuts to Clemson's budget and the expiration of their state funded grant, the Students for Environmental Awareness (SEA) will hold their first Farm Aid Festival to raise money to save Clemson's Student Organic Farm.

It costs approximately $75,000 a year to run the farm, most of which was funded by USDA grants. The severe drop in funding this year caused the farm to layoff one full-time and two part-time workers. "The farm took drastic budget hits this year and needs the community's help to persist into the next season, until funding can return," said Blake Storey, an active member of SEA.

The Student Organic Farm was certified as organic in 2005 and has been growing vegetables and plants ever since. Only last year, officials opened up the farm to selling on site as opposed to bring the goods to a market.

The Farm Aid Festival is not anticipating the salvation of the farm through one fundraiser, but they do hope that the word will spread about the situation. "We don't expect to make a lot of money, just enough hopefully to get the farm through the winter," said Blake. "The primary focus is to bring the community together to celebrate local agriculture and help us gain support from the University's administration in their budgets and from competitive grants."

This festival will have live music, speakers, fun activities for the kids and a selection of fresh food from vendors from around the Clemson community. The farm is across from the football stadium on Perimeter Road. If heading toward U.S. 76 take the first right onto Old Stadium Road after passing through the Williamson Road stoplight. The farm's gravel driveway is on the right. It will begin at 10 a.m. and run until 4 p.m. on Nov. 22.

To sign the petition for saving the farm visit http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/save-clemson-sustainable-agriculture. Those interested in getting involved with SEA should contact either Blake Storey at bstorey@clemson.edu or Noel Durant at noeld@clemson.edu.

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