Cultivation Projects
Babylon Hydroponic Farms
Babylons are cutting-edge hydroponic cultivation initiatives introduced to our campus in the fall of 2023. These systems enhance our campus by providing agricultural education and fresh, hyper-local ingredients. We currently have three Babylon Systems installed in different dining locations: Wagoner Dining Hall, The Shore Dining Hall, and Fisher University Union at our concept Heirloom.
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These systems enable us to grow a variety of herbs, lettuces, greens, and flowers. The produce cultivated is utilized by our chefs to enhance meals with fresh flavors, serve as beautiful garnishes, or create delicious sauces like our house-made pesto. The harvested produce is incorporated into the menus at The Shore Dining Hall, Wagoner Dining Hall, Heirloom, and Catering Special Events.
Microgreens and Shoots
The Microgreens and Shoots Program is a cultivation initiative providing the campus with agricultural education and delicious, hyper-local ingredients. Microgreens are young sprouts of different herbs, vegetables, and flowers. These greens are packed with nutrients, add flavor to a meal, and can serve as a beautiful garnish.
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Microgreens have up to 40 times the amount of nutrients as their adult counterpart. Growing these directly on campus allows students to gain agricultural education
Micros are used in menus all over campus, including The Shore Dining Hall, Wagoner Dining Hall, Hawk's Nest, and Catering Special Events.​​​​
Aquaponics
Aquaponics combines hydroponics (growing plants without soil) and aquaculture (farming fish). It is a complete ecosystem where the fish provide waste, which is then broken down into usable nutrients by bacteria, which fuel growth in the plants. Our system contains three koi fish.
Located in Wagoner Dining Hall, the system is comprised of two growing methods: a media bed and a deep-water culture (DWC) tank. The media bed is the area filled with small clay balls called LECA and varying plants. The DWC tank is the area with the styrofoam board used to grow crops for culinary uses.