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The Farm at Butler

The Farm at Butler aerial view of rows of veggies

Sustainability in action.

The Farm at Butler is a one-acre sustainable agriculture project on the campus of Butler University and managed by the Center for Urban Ecology and Sustainability (CUES). The farm’s three-pronged mission is:

  • To promote excellence in education and research across the University curriculum,
  • To educate Butler University and the Indianapolis community about sustainable agriculture and the local food system, and
  • To serve as an example of sustainable urban agriculture through the exploration of local food production.

Student members of Earth Charter Butler and the CUES broke ground on the farm in 2010. The farm has expanded over the years, with generous support from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust and Butler University. Tim Dorsey joined The Farm at Butler in 2011 as farm manager.

The Farm currently grows a variety of seasonal produce using organic practices, selling all of our food directly to Butler’s campus dining services provider, Bon Appétit. Each April, we also host an annual flower and vegetable plant start sale that is open to the community.

Marissa Byers at The Farm at Butler checking on some plants

A Place for Growth

FARM-BASED LEARNING

Through internships, research projects, volunteer opportunities, and more, Butler students can gain hands-on experience in the fields of food systems, agriculture, and agroecology. The Farm also serves as an outdoor classroom, with curricular ties to courses from a variety of disciplines across campus.

Explore Student Opportunities See How We Support Academics

Our Story

For more than a decade, The Farm at Butler has been a place for people to connect with the world and one another.

Want to learn more about The Farm’s history, mission, agriculture methods, curricular ties, and community engagement?

Check Out This Butler Stories Mini-Series
The Farm at Butler

Cultivating Community

The Farm serves as a model for urban farming in Indianapolis, local organizations, up-and-coming farmers, and students of all ages.

Cultivating Community
  • Indianapolis is ranked worst in the United States for urban food deserts.
  • An estimated 4.9 million Americans are food insecure. These households had 49 percent higher health care costs than those of food-secure households.
  • Purchasing small-scale, sustainably grown, local foods reduces greenhouse gas emissions, builds community relations, and enhances biodiversity and soil health.
  • Urban farms also serve as community educators on healthy eating, environmental stewardship, and/or food justice.