Purdue, Green BEAN Partner on Research

Indianapolis-based Green BEAN delivery has entered into a research partnership with Purdue University. They will study soil health and growing disease-resistant plants.

Indianapolis, Ind. — Green BEAN Delivery, an online home delivery service that provides organic produce and natural groceries to Midwest members, announces today a new research partnership with Purdue University to study soil micro biota on Green BEAN Delivery’s two farms, The Feel Good Farm in Sheridan and the EcOhio Farm in Mason, Ohio, as well as LIFE Farm in Morgan County.

Improving soil health and growing vegetables that resist plant diseases are key goals of the new research partnership between Purdue and Green BEAN Delivery. Led by Dr. Lori Hoagland of Purdue, the project will investigate how organic soil amendments change the community of microbes that live in the soil and how those changes influence growth and disease incidence in vegetable crops. While Hoagland provides the expertise in research and soil microbial ecology, Green BEAN Delivery provides practical expertise in fresh-market vegetable production and contributes research sites at three organic farms along with day-to-day management of the plots. The project is supported by a grant from the CERES Trust.

“We know that soil microbes play a key role in helping plants fight disease, but we still have so much to learn about how to manage these communities in the field for agricultural benefits,” said Hoagland. “Multi-year studies on working organic farms are essential to unraveling the mysteries of soil ecology and identifying practical approaches to improve vegetable production.”

Jeff Evard, agronomist for Green BEAN Delivery and manager of the three farms, will work directly with Hoagland and her team.

“We are thrilled to partner with Purdue University on such an important area of research for organic farming,” said Evard. “A better understanding of soil microbiology will help organic farmers all across the Midwest. Expanding this knowledge is critical to developing a thriving local food system, which is a key mission of Green BEAN Delivery.”

Purdue Extension will host a tour of the research at Feed Good Farm on Friday, July 12, 2013 from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Visitors will see cabbage nearly ready for harvest in the research plots and learn how to conduct on-farm research trials and measure soil health. Tours of the other sites at LIFE Farm and EcOhio Farm are planned for future years of the project.

About Green BEAN Delivery

Green BEAN Delivery is an online home delivery service that provides organic produce and natural groceries to its members in Indianapolis and Fort Wayne, Ind., Cincinnati, Columbus and Dayton, Ohio, Louisville and Lexington, Ky., St. Louis, Mo., and the greater surrounding areas. The company provides an avenue for local and regional artisans and farmers to share their crafts and talents with community members. BEAN stands for the principles that guide the company’s mission: Biodynamic, Education, Agriculture and Nutrition. Green BEAN Delivery has a passion for giving back to the communities in which it does business. Green BEAN Delivery also operates two sustainable farms, The Feel Good Farm in Sheridan, Ind., and EcOhio Farm in Mason, Ohio. For more information, visit http://www.GreenBEANDelivery.com.

Source: Grean BEAN Delivery