UMD Land Lab has a bright future blooming
An aerial view of the UMD Land Lab showing the farm space. Photo courtesy of John Beaton
For many years, The University of Minnesota Land Lab has been a place where students and faculty can grow plants, conduct research on environmental science and learn about agriculture. However, the Land Lab team believes that there is more that can be done, and they are moving the Land Lab forward in a new direction. The UMD Land Lab farm manager, John Beaton, has a plan for what the Land Lab is doing next. Beaton believes that in recent years that the Land Lab has not been utilized as much as it can, and he intends to change that.
“Essentially what we’re trying to do with the Land Lab now is trying to make it so the farm is like a neutral space for interdisciplinary research,” Beaton said. “Any professor, any faculty, any department can utilize the Land Lab, whether it is related to agriculture or not.”
The Land Lab recently became a part of the Office of Sustainability, and is located five miles outside of the University of Minnesota campus. It includes ten acres of farmland, and a five acre apple orchard. This land is used for growing fruits, vegetables, flowers and for different research opportunities and projects. Students use the Land Lab to put what they’ve learned about environmental science and agriculture to practice in a way that helps the environment and the Duluth community.
“The Land Lab has kind of sat and not really been utilized for the last couple of years. Now that the farm is under the purview of the office of sustainability we’re kinda revamping programs,” Beaton said.
The Land Lab is a space where anyone from UMD can come and connect with the earth and actually see what they are doing for sustainability and the environment. Students can go out and learn about growing vegetables and flowers, while professors can use the Land Lab to teach their students about environmental science, agriculture, or many different subjects. Beaton and the rest of the Lab Team is working to bring classes to the Land Lab, as well as coming to help out with classes on campus.
Sophie Guth, Justin Ciletti, John Beaton and Jonna Korpi at the Land Lab on Riley Road. Photo courtesy of John Beaton
The Land Lab is working on a few projects right now, including the Forest Assisted Migration Project. This project involves taking seeds of trees from southern Minnesota and bringing them to be planted in northern Minnesota. The goal of the Forest Assisted Migration Project is to help trees in northern Minnesota where it is becoming much warmer due to climate change. Bringing in trees from southern Minnesota will help to strengthen the forests against climate change.
Another one of the projects that the Land Lab is focusing on involves biochar. Biochar is organic plant material that has been burned by high temperatures in a low oxygen environment. The material also contains carbon inside of it for a long period of time. It is then applied to the fields where the biochar helps to contain nutrients and moisture in the soil. The Land Lab is doing research to see how biochar can help to strengthen soil and sequester carbon.
The University of Minnesota Duluth Land Lab also grows vegetables, some of which are used by the dining center on campus. The Land Lab also provides some of the vegetables to non profit organizations in Duluth that provide food to low income families in the city.
As of right now, John Beaton describes the current goal of the Land Lab as, “providing value for the community, providing value for the student body, and providing value for faculty as well.” The Land Lab has many different opportunities for anyone on campus who wants to learn more about sustainability, agriculture and more topics concerning the environment. There will be other opportunities coming up this semester for anyone who is interested in working with and volunteering with the Land Lab. The address is UMD Land Lab 3568 Riley Rd. Duluth, MN 55803. If you want to know more about the Land Lab, visit the website of the Office of Sustainability.