Tag Archives: Agriculture

Curbside Compost Pickup Comes to Stevens Point

Two local farms, Rising Sand Organics and Whitefeather Organics, are partnering to offer a compost pick-up service in Stevens Point. Each Thursday they collect five-gallon buckets full of compost from homes around town. The waste is taken to Whitefeather Organics where it is composted further.  Eventually the compost will be used to fertilize fields at Whitefeather Organics and Rising Sand ... Read More »

Students for Sustainability Ready for Spring

Although the campus garden may still be covered in snow, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Student’s for Sustainability officers know that spring is just around the corner. The group is already planning for spring planting. Kelli Johnson, junior environmental education major and Students for Sustainability garden coordinator, said they are currently choosing what varieties of vegetables to grow and have ordered ... Read More »

Cutting Out The Middle Man

While there are many waves of new trends or ideas coming our way with unknown intentions, direct farming is a tide many can welcome with open arms. As reported by the United States Department of Agriculture, not only is Wisconsin ranked within the top five in sales of direct farming, but the entire country has seen an increase in 2.3 percent ... Read More »

Locally Grown Aquaponic Lettuce Served on Campus

The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Dining Services now offers local aquaponic lettuce at the deli line and salad bar in the Dreyfus University Center, and the salad bar at Upper Debot. This lettuce is grown just over 60 miles south of campus at Nelson and Pade Inc. in Montello, Wisconsin. Aquaponic lettuce was first offered to students at these locations last ... Read More »

Wisconsin DNR Sued Over High-Capacity Well Approvals

Nine high-capacity wells have recently been approved in central Wisconsin. The wells are used for irrigation for agriculture in the area, but high capacity wells are controversial due to their high usage of water. High-capacity wells pump more than 100,000 gallons of groundwater every day. According to the Wisconsin Administrative Code, “a high capacity well system has one or more ... Read More »

Cows, Clementines, and Climate Change

Currently, our planet is getting warmer, colder, wetter and dryer all at once. Extreme weather patterns have become a norm. People in Bangladesh have to move out of their flooded homes because of strong rains, while Californians are still in a great drought. This intense global climate change is due to an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. A ... Read More »

Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology Receives Research Grant

The Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology was recently awarded a federal grant of $499,965 from the U.S. Economic Development Administration for the purpose of conducting studies on the residual pieces from crops, and turning the waste into useable household chemicals. Out of 170 grant applications; the institute was selected along with approximately 20 other organizations. The grant will span over ... Read More »

Community Celebrates Local Farmers

Food producers featured in the Central Wisconsin Farm Fresh Atlas were honored in a special way during the eighth annual farmer tribute dinner at the Rothschild Pavilion. Over 100 community members, farmers and their families enjoyed food, activities, live music and dancing during the celebration hosted by Central Rivers Farmshed on Nov. 14. The event marked the end of the ... Read More »

Organic Farm Management Training Teaches Students about Farming

As part of a training session, the Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Association helped some students and community members learn about organic farm management. Held at the Schmeeckle Reserve visitor center on Oct. 6, the training was designed to introduce agriculture and land conservation professionals to organic farming. Throughout the day, participants explored ways to help landowners who are practicing, ... Read More »

Students For Sustainability Tour Area Farms

With the help of Students for Sustainability, some Pointers got a taste of farm life. The student organization held a series of three farm tours highlighting local, sustainable agriculture for University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point students. Attendees visited Whitefeather Organics in Custer, Lonely Oak Farm in Milladore and Liberation Permaculture Farm in Almond on Saturdays from Sept. 19 to Oct. 3. ... Read More »