August 13, 2026
The Food Forest takes root at JCCC
Visit the Stu Shafer Open Petal Farm at JCCC and you’ll find yourself immersed in 2.5 acres of a living classroom.
Since opening their “gates” in 2010, the Farm is home to the Sustainable Agriculture Certificate program and has served as a learning space for students while also providing locally grown, chemical-free produce to the College and community.
Fresh fruits and vegetables color the landscape year-round, with over 80 varieties of more than 30 different crops.
Michael Rea, Sustainability project manager, shared, “The unique thing about a campus farm is you have the opportunity to eat food that is so fresh you gain a taste for vegetables and fruits that’s different from what you can buy in the store.”
Cultivating a community partnership
The Farm remains a Cavalier and community favorite, welcoming public visitors, partnering with JCCC’s Pastry Shop and Dining Services for year-round fresh produce, and cohosting the annual Harvest Dinner with the Center for Sustainability.
The Farm’s success caught the attention of K-State Extension Johnson County, an organization providing university-supported research and resources to the wider Johnson County area.
Their primary mission? Sustainable food systems that, in turn, build stronger communities. It was an excellent fit for the Stu Shafer Open Petal Farm.
Breaking new ground with the Food Forest
One volunteer program sponsored by K-State Extension included the Extension Master Gardeners (EMG), a trained group dedicated to sharing gardening information with their community.
Bob Maas, a long-time EMG, saw an opportunity for the Farm through K-State Extension’s demonstration gardens.
Demonstration gardens provide active learning environments for home gardeners. There are currently 10 demonstration gardens in Johnson County, with everything from landscape trees to vegetables to perennials and annuals.
For Bob and the K-State Extension Service, opening a demonstration garden at the Farm was an obvious choice.
Anthony Reardon, Small Farms Agent at the K-State Johnson County Extension Office, said, “We were exploring a partnership to help connect the educational efforts of the two entities… something new that isn’t already showcased by another one of our display areas. When the opportunity arose to take on the existing food forest by revitalizing and expanding it, we thought it would be a perfect fit for our goal of innovation.”
What resulted was the Food Forest.
Living, thriving, learning
With months of hard work, the concept for the Food Forest came together.
“The Food Forest is a living demonstration of how people and landscapes can thrive together,” said Claire Zimmerman, the Center for Sustainability's Campus Farm & Outreach Manager. “It’s designed as a layered ecosystem, applying the principles of permaculture — working with nature rather than against it.”
Using ecological and natural practices, master gardeners and naturalists designed the edible garden as a minimal maintenance ecosystem, with help from JCCC students.
Open to the public during daylight hours, visitors to the JCCC Food Forest will find an exciting outdoor learning environment that integrates a biodiverse range of trees, shrubs, herbs, vegetables, and support plants. The landscape features native species only, creating both a perennial ecosystem and sustainable garden of edible fruit, vegetables, and flora in a cohesive, purposeful space.
Now an exciting permanent fixture at JCCC, the Food Forest will attract beneficial wildlife and pollinators; facilitate public visitors, students, and staff; and provide an outdoor classroom space for agriculture classes and related programs.
As well as learning opportunities, Claire looks forward to the Food Forest inspiring current and future gardeners. “By creating a beautiful space to connect with nature and one another… it is our hope that gardeners are inspired to create functional and sustainable landscapes in their own yards."
Visiting the Food Forest
Eager to see what the Food Forest is growing? Check out what’s blooming next at the Stu Shafer Open Petal Farm by following on Instagram, and don’t forget to join us for the Food Forest Open House on Thursday, Sep. 3.