The UMD Land Lab helps students and the community experiment with creating a more sustainable local food system. Located about 5 miles north of the UMD campus, the lab has 10 acres of land dedicated to organic farming, 5 acres of apple orchards, and an additional 15 acres used as a food systems incubator for community organizations interested in transitioning our food and agriculture system to one that is more sustainable.
The lab grows 25 tons of organic produce used in campus dining, supports academic research on sustainable agriculture, and offers students a hands-on way to learn about the connections between water, land, economics, and the challenge of helping institutions lower their ecological footprint.
Image used with permission by the UMD Land Lab