Barbara and Aaron Heyerdahl donated Beech Hill Farm to the college.

Founded in 1989 by COA alumni Barbara Heyerdahl and her husband Aaron, Beech Hill farm was based on a senior project plan followed through to completion. The Heyerdahl’s ran the farm for 10 years before donating it to College of the Atlantic. Today, the farm is an invaluable educational tool and resource. According to COA’s website, “The farm serves as a living laboratory where College of the Atlantic students and faculty engage with agriculture as a central concern of human ecology.” Certainly, Beech Hill allows COA to deepen its connection with the land of MDI and the wider community. Students have the opportunity to work on the farm as a part of COA’s work study and summer work programs, or take field trips to the greenhouses to learn about anything from farming policy to soil health. Greens from Beech Hill often find their way to Take-a-Break dining hall, where community members can taste the delicious fruits of their labor.

To find out more, look through our Beech Hill Farm Collection and Beech Hill and Peggy Rockefeller Farm Planning Collection.