WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Crop Classroom

Crop Classroom

South Burlington, Vermont -- August 14, 2006

On a warm summer day, Robert Ard is doing what he loves best -- farming.

"It's a lot of fun to be out here, it's a good time," said Ard.

Ard is one of several students in the Common Ground Student Run Farm Club at the University of Vermont.

During the summer months, five students work the land. But when school is in session, as many as 20 can be seen in the fields.

"Us as students, we started all these vegetables from seed and started them in the green house back in February and March and now they're out here and they're giving fruit, it's a wonderful experience it's very rewarding," he said.

Like Ard, most of the students are in the Plant and Soil Science department at UVM.

'Really the best thing about this is that we give them the reins and let them go with it and I think that they learn that its difficult to manage," said Terry Bradshaw, of the UVM Horticulture Farm.

This club is not only a great learning experience for students, its also a great opportunity for them to give back to the community. Last year alone, the club donated over 10,000 pounds of food to the food shelf.

"It means a lot to our families especially when you look at the value, the greater value of fresh produce and vegetables and a lot of our families can't afford that," said Wanda Hines, Director of the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf.

The food shelf serves over 1,800 families every week.

The Common Ground Club has donated over 60,000 pounds of food to the Food Shelf in the past seven years.

"Every day they drop off at least 200 or 300 pounds of fresh produce which will of course now be the potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers," said Hines.

"(It's) a wonderful opportunity for students such as myself to get a hands on learning experience," said Ard.

Beth LeClair -- Channel 3 News