Student Info
Name: Sarah Dyer
Term: Summer 2022
Credits: 12
Title of ILC or Group Project: 2022 Radicchio and Overwintering Cabbage Variety Trials at the Evergreen Organic Farm
Field Supervisor
Field Supervisor: Dr. Sarah Williams
Title: Evergreen Faculty
Subcontractors
Name: Dr. Steve Scheuerell
Title: Evergreen Faculty
Name: Dr. Angelos Katsanis
Title: Evergreen Faculty
Program of Project Description
Narrative:
This multi-quarter project, titled “2022 Radicchio and Overwintering Cabbage Variety Trials at the Evergreen Organic Farm”, will be used to enhance and record the student’s 2022 summer research fellowship and is designed to evaluate radicchio and overwintering cabbages for insect and disease resistance, yield and marketability, and flavor. Specific learning objectives are to learn more about the design and implementation of variety trials, to learn how to assess selected varieties for insect and disease resistance, to learn to collect data regarding yield and marketable yield, and to establish tasting protocols to be utilized when evaluating crops for flavor.
As the 2022 SURF fellow, the student will utilize a selected field at the Evergreen Organic Farm to create replicated variety trials for both radicchio and overwintering cabbage and assess the suitability of the selected varieties for the farm. The student will design, implement, and monitor a replicated field trial for selected varieties of overwintering cabbage and radicchio.
The student will complete two thematic literature reviews, one each for radicchio and overwintering cabbage, which will cover botanical information, growth, agricultural best practices, pest pressures, and disease issues surrounding the selected crops. The student will demonstrate familiarity with the topic and its scholarly context.
In addition to meetings to discuss work with faculty, the student will post weekly progress to a WordPress ePortfolio.
| To learn about the design of variety trials, including planning, preparation, and cultivation, through application. | The student will create a design and protocols for both radicchio and overwintering cabbage variety trials, utilizing the text “The Grower’s Guide to Conducting On-farm Variety Trials” by Organic Seed Alliance. The student will prepare the field according to the variety trial design. Special attention will be paid to soil preparation and amendments, bed preparation, and irrigation. The student will sow the seeds for the variety trial and transplant them into the field at the appropriate time. | Notes and progress posted to an ePortfolio with weekly blog posts and consistent documentation. |
| To learn about radicchio, including botanical information, growth, agricultural best practices, pest pressures, and disease issues surrounding the crop. | The student will search for relevant literature on radicchio and evaluate sources in order to identify themes, debates, and gaps in the literature. The student will write a thematic literature review for the crop, demonstrating familiarity with the topic and its scholarly context. | Literature review focused on radicchio. Notes and progress posted to an ePortfolio with weekly blog posts and consistent documentation. |
| To learn about overwintering cabbage, including botanical information, growth, agricultural best practices, pest pressures, and disease issues surrounding the crop. | The student will search for relevant literature on overwintering cabbage and evaluate sources in order to identify themes, debates, and gaps in the literature. The student will write a thematic literature review for the crop, demonstrating familiarity with the topic and its scholarly context. | Literature review focused on overwintering cabbage. Notes and progress posted to an ePortfolio with weekly blog posts and consistent documentation. |
Evaluation of Work
- WordPress ePortfolio
- Final week ten presentation
- Narrative evaluations from field supervisor and/or subcontractor
- Narrative mid-quarter and final self-evaluations