Among the many in Moscow in sync with this trend is Soil Stewards, a student organization in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, or CALS. The club, formally known as the Sustainable and Organic Farming Club, operates a three-acre organic farm just east of town. Located at Parker Farm, the student-run enterprise occupies part of the Palouse Research, Extension and Education Center, the oldest branch of the Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station, which began operations before the university’s first classes and celebrates its 120th anniversary this year. Alumna Ariel Agenbroad credits Soil Stewards for providing a challenging and rewarding educational experience and preparing her for a career. “It was perfect. It’s helped me understand where a lot of the growers are coming from and the challenges they’re facing.” After becoming involved with the club as an undergraduate, she went on to earn a master’s degree in horticulture and serve as co-manager of the club’s organic farm for one growing season.
“It taught me so much about how to solve problems and find solutions. I have the understanding of how to talk with growers and gardeners about the problems they’re encountering. I have a lot of respect for the people who grow our food,” Agenbroad said. She’s sharing her down-to-earth passion. Agenbroad now works as an extension educator for small farms and horticulture operations in Caldwell. She teaches master gardener classes in which community members receive detailed instruction on growing methods and pest control. In turn, they volunteer to help others grow bountiful gardens and maintain landscapes. For Elaine and Jim Jenkins of Nampa, Agenbroad nurtured the seed for what has become a multipurpose family business. “We were taking the master gardeners class and Ariel talked about Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA, and we just sort of looked at each other. We’re trying to raise our kids to become responsible young adults and we’d been trying to find good summer jobs for them,” Elaine Jenkins recalled.
Left: Spring starts on offer at a Soil Stewards sale. Right: A bicyclist selects homegrown produce at the group’s seasonal market. Photos by U-Idaho Photo Services
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