Farm Adopts Controversial Rules

Many members of the Farm community have expressed concern over recent rule changes to the area, including one that prohibits open fires. As a result of the rule change, students were forced to close off a recently built fire pit.

By Kyle Warneck
Staff Writer

Amongst the trees and buildings crowded into the Pomona College Organic Farm, visitors this week found a bright blue industrial sign listing the Farm’s new rules and regulations. The Farm Steering Committee, formed last year and composed of interested students, professors Hazlett, Worthington and Elderkin as well as members of the administration, spent more than a year developing the new rules. These rules are the most visible sign of a new direction for the farm. The Steering Committee is part of a new direction for the farm, with an emphasis on its role as an educational resource for the college.

Dean of Students Ann Quinley commented, “The role of the farm at Pomona is like all of Pomona, changing.” Members of the Committee believe the Farm must be both a place for student activity and a supplement to the academic program. and it needs to be a place for students to experiment with sustainable living and agriculture in ways that contribute to the academic mission of the college. Both supporters and critics of the new rules hope that the Steering Committee and its rules are the seeds of a new relationship between the College and the Farm which will help both sides in the long run.

While the rules were adopted under President Stanley, President Oxtoby has already visited the Farm. “The farm has great potential educational value for the College, and I look forward to continuing to work with students to further this and other areas of environmental concern for Pomona,” said the new president.

Students were quick to point out that many of the new rules are restatements of old farm rules, which had been painted on plywood and posted around the farm for months. Visitors are required to stay on the paths, to put tools away after use, and to dispose of trash. Students and guests may plant, weed, water, and harvest as long as they exercise care. These rules also call for a basic attitude of respect towards the things that live in the farm and the people who tend it.

Not all of the new rules were accepted without controversy. The new policy is explicit. No alcohol. No fires. No drums outside of registered events. Events must end by 9:00 pm. Alcohol has always been banned in the farm, since it is a public space, and students say this prevents litter and protects the life in the farm, The drumming restriction was implemented due to specific complaints from Claremont residents living near the farm. While students contend that music is an important part of the farm community, they accept the rule pointing out that there is no limit on the number of events. The 9:00 pm cap is largely self enforced since after sunset the farm becomes too dark to hold events anyway.

The fire rule was a particularly heated part of the discussion. Days before the final draft of the rules were published, students completed construction of a kiva, an alternative building made from local materials and featuring a fire place. The administration initially demanded that the fire marshal approve the new fire place and the existing cob oven, but former President Stanley later ruled that there would be no fires at the farm at all. Students argued that the fire pit and oven made these fires perfectly safe and that they are safer than the large fires allowed at the Wash and the barbecues scattered across campus. The administration refused to negotiate on this point, and students agreed to accept the rule for now. Both students and administrators have said that they anticipate these rules being enforced without exception. So far, students report there have been no problems.

Despite these sometimes heating debates, students are optimistic that these rules will contribute to the Farm’s future success. All sides were interested in finding rules that preserved the integrity of the farms goals. Farm Co-President Bowen Patterson ’06 said, “The farm is a place to work, learn and enjoy in a community, not to hide behavior.” Students expressed hope that these new rules could actually draw new people to the farm. The rules serve as an immediate reassurance to new visitors, who may be afraid of doing something wrong. Farm etiquette is not something you have to learn from experience. At the same time, the rules serve to protect the health of the farm. The overall vision of the farm as a place for the community to work, study and enjoy is maintained.

With the new rules in place, Patterson was optimistic about the upcoming year for the farm. She stressed that farm coordinators were well positioned to start recruiting new students to be part of it. The development of the new version of the earth dome is going well. Students involved with the farm said the permit process is going well and anticipate being able to start construction within a month. The farm maintains strong support from the alumni, the community and the administration. While there are still issues to be resolved, including the need to set a permanent boundary to the farm’s expansion to the north and east, members of the farm community seem satisfied that the Farm Steering Committee will fairly navigate these challenges.

The farms’ leaders continue to expand the farms’ role as a classroom and gathering place. While the process might not have been easy Patterson concluded that it has all helped, “The Farm become a welcoming space for people to enjoy.”