Antioch Farm
Welcome to Antioch College Farm!
Most of us see agriculture only from a distance now — through a car window on the highway, or from a plane looking down. We don’t actually interact with it.
Antioch College Farm is an exception. It sits on the south campus, right in the middle of the village of Yellow Springs. Our growing plots come within about 150 meters of the nearest houses, and community members walk the land — and their dogs — on any given day. Fifty yards from the bike path on Corry Street, our solar arrays graze sheep in plain view of everyone passing by.
Upcoming Events
Join us for the 2026 Soil Health Symposium — Friday, November 13, 2026, a free event open to the community, co-hosted by the Antioch College Farm. RSVP here.
Farm Overview
Founded in 2011, the Farm is a working farm and learning laboratory staffed mostly by Antioch students:
- About 2 acres of fenced crop and chicken-raising production, including a 600-square-foot hoop house
- About 5 acres of fenced solar arrays where sheep graze
- Roughly 2 acres of orchard and food forest
- More than 10 acres of grassland in the Antioch Prairie
The Antioch College Farm utilizes ecological agriculture to provide an integrated context for liberal arts learning. The Farm allows students to experience, explore, and develop methods of sustainability, through its interwoven functions as an outdoor laboratory for curricular study and a living forum where student labor connects to campus dining and recycling. Our sustainable land management program—including the Farm to the entire campus—has been recognized nationally through the AASHE Campus Sustainability Index.
The average meal in the United States travels 1,500 miles to reach our tables. At Antioch College, food from the Antioch Farm travels about 1,500 feet to our Kitchens!
The Farm in Photos
Guiding Principles
The Antioch Farm models and practices a variety of sustainably focused growing methods rooted in seven guiding principles outlined below.
- Environmental Sustainability – Growing methods not only meet the National USDA Organic Standards but they also include ecological, biodynamic, and/or permaculture practices. Structures and facilities reflect our commitment to environmental sustainability, conserving natural resources, and minimizing campus waste.
- Healthy, Living Soil – The Farm uses campus leaves, vegetable dining scraps, and other local “waste” products to create a nutrient-rich soil that is high in organic matter and teeming with microbial life. Special attention is paid to soil conservation and soil ecology.
- Biodiversity – Taking cues from nature, the Farm grows a variety of perennial and annual plants, including crops that attract beneficial insects.
- Local Water Quality – No synthetic chemicals or fertilizers, which can leach into the local watershed, are used. Water conservation practices are employed.
- Experiential Education – The Farm is an outdoor classroom, integrated into the curriculum, providing a living laboratory for experimentation and an interactive learning space.
- Economic Sustainability – Fresh food grown on the Farm goes entirely to enhance student dining and, by employing student workers, the Farm helps to sustain the campus economy.
- Community Sustainability – The Antioch Farm cooperates with and supports local sustainability efforts. The Antioch Farm does not compete with local growers and considers impact to community with actions.
Farm Connections
The Farm is central to many aspects of campus and community life.
- The Farm is a central element of our internationally recognized farm-to-table dining program.
- Employing Antioch students since its inception, the Farm provides students employment and hands-on learning about local, sustainable agriculture.
- Faculty collaboration with the Farm provides extensive experiential learning opportunities and inspires innovative class projects like soil building experiments.
- Strong community connection to the Farm enables opportunities for volunteering, school and public tours.
Meet the Farm Team
Dr. Kevin Matteson, Farm Director. Kevin joined Antioch College in September 2026 as Associate Professor of Environmental Science and Biology and Farm Director. He holds a Ph.D. in Ecology from Fordham University and teaches SCI 270, Applied Entomology and Community Science. Read his full profile.
Bruce Linebaugh, Farm Manager. Bruce has managed the Antioch College Farm since March 2021, after growing up on a dairy farm near Yellow Springs. Read his full profile.
Numerous students, alumni, staff and volunteers contribute to the farm in meaningful ways. While not listed by name, we are grateful for their contributions and they are a critical part of what we do.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Antioch College Farm? It is a student-staffed working farm and learning laboratory on Antioch College’s south campus in Yellow Springs, Ohio. It grows food for campus dining and for the local Yellow Springs and regional community through the farmers market, and serves as a classroom for ecological agriculture.
Can the public visit or volunteer? Yes. Volunteers of all ages and skill levels are welcome. Email farm@antiochcollege.edu to arrange a visit or work day.
How do students work on the Farm? Students join Farm crews through the college’s work program and take classes that use the Farm as a laboratory, such as SCI 270 and FARM 101.
Who can take the EcoFarm & Food Foresting Certificate? Anyone, from backyard gardeners to people planning a small farm. Details are on the program page.
Get Involved
Contact us at farm@antiochcollege.edu if you would like to help on the farm. All ages and skill levels are welcome.
