About New Mexico State University’s Student Farm: OASIS

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For More Information, Visit the Website at: https://agesvr1.soilphys.ad.nmsu.edu:8888/oasis/

“In fall 2001, faculty at New Mexico State University’s College of Agriculture and Home Economics were awarded a three-year grant by the USDA Hispanic Serving Institutions Grant Program, to develop a student managed CSA farm on campus. Our first crop was planted on a 2/3 acre plot on the NMSU Fabian Garcia Farm. This is the first organic garden on the Las Cruces NMSU campus, the first organic production class, and the first CSA venture in the Mesilla Valley.

Members of a CSA farm purchase memberships that entitle them to a share of the harvest each week throughout the year. Besides the weekly assortment of fresh vegetables, herbs, and flowers, members of CSAs enjoy knowing how their food was grown, where it is from, and establishing a relationship with the grower. The grower benefits because the members share the production risk and provide up front operating capital and a secure market. The CSA model was first adopted in the US in 1985 and has since spread across the US as farmers and consumers realize the mutual benefits.

At OASIS, students learn how to plan and manage a diverse organic vegetable, flower, and herb production system in spring and fall semester classes. Students are hired in the summer to help with planting, harvest and weekly distributions. Our season runs early April to late November, about 34 weeks.”

Oasis welcomes inquiries from farmers who would like assistance setting up a CSA farm.

Questions or Comments? Please email Connie Falk