Dearest farm friends,

We've felt the importance of connection this month, of holding on to loved ones as the weather gets colder, the days get shorter, and it becomes time to bundle up around a pot of good soup. Contra is just around the corner, but the farm has already been wrapped in the joy of togetherness both on the acre and off.

Our student crew bring passion and energy to so many of DCF's relationships - humbly lending a hand on mutual aid projects, translating the farm's mission at tabling events and bringing athletics teams, engineers, and business majors together at Community Work Days. Read more below about crew member Eddie Huang's development of a volunteer sign-up software program for our partners at the Durham Community Fridges.

On November 6th, DCF's McGinty Fellow Roo Jackson will convene a panel discussion with Dr. Courtney Lewis (Cherokee) and Dr. Hannah Conway (Cherokee), delving into Trinity College's involvement with the federal Indian Industrial School program. In our third season of cultivating the Southeastern American Indian Garden, we're eager to hold an open conversation around this story.

We'll need some help pulling sweet potatoes and planting little spinach seedlings before winter truly blows in. As always, Community Work Days are on Wednesday mornings (9am-12pm) and Friday afternoons (1-4pm). Bring a jacket this time around, and a friend or two. 

Cheers,

Christina Ferrari, Sloss Fellow

(left: Roo Jackson, McGinty Fellow. right: Abby Walden, crew member T '26)

Find us on campus! Crew members Abby, Faith, Joseph, Eddie and Erin headed to main campus with jalapenos, sunflowers and cosmos for Duke Admissions Prospective Students Open House, Duke CSGD's (Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity) Coming Out Day, and Duke Garden's annual Harvest Festival.

Eddie Huang (T '27) has been working as a student field crew member since starting at Duke in 2023. As a major in Computer Science and Math, he appreciates finding practical ways to apply his learning. "The main reason I'm doing Comp. Sci is to help people and create tools for them to use," Eddie said.

Hearing a community partner's need for a volunteer interface that was both efficient and secure, McGinty Fellow Roo Jackson thought Eddie might be able. Although Eddie didn't have a background in designing website interface, he thought this would "be a great way to learn the more applied side of computer science and help more than I would have at an internship with a big company". 

Durham Community Fridge volunteers and organizers now use Eddie's site to share volunteer parameters, needs, and schedule. The fridge's website is encrypted with a passcode to ensure safe internal access and keep their information private. 

During Homecoming Weekend, Nicholas School Alumni held their 10 year reunion breakfast at the farm. 

Join us for community work days in the fall! Volunteers are welcome to join us on Wednesdays from 9am-12pm and/or Fridays from 1-4pm. Our students, volunteers, and staff consistently say that their most memorable memories at DCF are the conversations they shared over a wheelbarrow of mulch or while tackling weeds in a bed of carrots together.

This year, we're excited to offer a few THEMED Community Work Days!

Sweet potato harvest- October 24th

Halloween CWD- October 31st (wear your costume to work day 🎃)

No farming experience is necessary, and all are warmly welcomed to attend.

Bring your farm finery and get ready for dancing, old-time music, hot cider and more! Contra is one of our longest standing farm events, open to all community members, students, staff, faculty, friends, fellow farmers, travelers passing through....

Guided by Eileen Thorsos, a long-time contra caller, and serenaded by Mara Shea on the fiddle and Dean Herington on piano, you will find yourself whisked away into a night of promenading, balancing, and do-si-do-ing with new friends.

No experience necessary! 

October 25th, 5-8pm

Entry Fee: $5, pay at the door

Join us for an evening of reflection and hands-on learning about the past and present relationship between Duke University and the Cherokee Nation, part of our "From the Ground Up" series. 

Visiting artist and engineer Andreco will share about his work at the intersection of engineering, art, and climate, and join a participatory workshop to design a new art installation at DCF.  

At the Duke Campus Farm, we work to catalyze positive change in the food system. In addition to offering healthy, seasonal, sustainable produce to our community, we grow climate and food systems  leaders with the tools to navigate a quickly changing landscape.

Now more than ever, we rely on the generosity of our community to continue offering sustainably grown food, and food systems education. If you are interested in supporting our work, we welcome your financial gift here.

Stay in touch with the Duke Campus Farm by following us on socials.