During Spring semester of 2022, Superbloom collaborated with Colorado State University’s horticulture department to conduct research and analysis for our ongoing design of 1881/Windler Farm Park. The semester-long project involved interviews with Superbloom, daily discussions about the design process and research on industry requirements, market and budget analysis, and community outreach. Taught by urban horticulture professor Dr Jennifer Bousselot, the course concluded with group presentations outlining suggestions for Superbloom’s award-winning project.
The Horticulture Crop Production and Management Capstone Course gave students the opportunity to work with several public-facing clients to better understand the business and management of large agricultural projects. Not only did students work to address goals of the project including resiliency in a closed system farm-to-table restaurant with working fields and orchards, to seed-saving practices, but they also assessed production costs, reduction of farming costs and resource efficiency, as well as supplementation.
Creative solutions by these enterprising students featured short and long season multi-week growing plans for in-season produce, community outreach by offering horticulture & seed-saving classes, supplemental income streams like educational tours of the gardens and grounds, as well as, a beekeeping area to sell honey and seed packets, canning, repurposing the extra produce to schools, restaurants & grocers, and detailed community-sustained agriculture programs!
Resource conservation solutions from the students featured a programmable drip irrigation system, a composting program, and raised bed gardening to decrease water usage and improve soil quality. They even provided harvest yield estimates and pricing for various markets. Impressive! Superbloom is excited to integrate these suggestions into our designs moving forward.
Check out some of the student renderings below.
