Bon Appetit donates $5,000 to DePauw Campus Farm

As part of a commitment to purchase more food locally, DePauw University food service provider Bon Appetit makes a $5,000 donation to the DePauw Campus Farm. On behalf of the campus farm, Alice "Carol" Dixon, senior Curt Hardacre, and DePauw Sustainability Director Anthony Baratta accept the check from Jason Rose, Jordan Hall and Maria Russ of Bon Appetit. (photo courtesy of DePauw University/MARILYN CULLER)

Bon Appetit Management Co. has donated $5,000 to the DePauw Campus Farm.

The one-acre plot, located at 1521 W. CR 225 South, Greencastle (near the Prindle Institute for Ethics) yielded more than 5,500 pounds of food last year and is off to a strong start again.

"We're thrilled to get the additional funds from Bon Appetit," DePauw Sustainability Director Anthony Baratta said. "We've added fruit trees and a beehive over the last year, thanks to generous donations from our DePauw and Greencastle community. Our dream is to fix up the farm house and hold cooking classes here."

The produce from the DePauw Campus Farm is sold to Bon Appetit as part of a commitment from Bon Appetit to purchase more local produce.

"We love working with our local vendors, including the Roachdale Community Farm, Fischer Farms, Crosby Farms and many more," Bon Appetit manager Jason Rose said.

The DePauw Campus Farm is in its second season after being established as a "living laboratory" for students and members of the community to learn about growing food. Just last week, Deer Meadow Primary School teacher Jennifer Riggle led 70 second-graders out to the farm for a tour.

"Students receive a lot of educational value by learning where food comes from, and how to grow it themselves," Riggle said.

The DePauw Campus Farm is open regularly for school group tours. For more information, persons may contact Lynsmith@depauw.edu.