Sobremesa Foundation Opened Daisy Garton Community Farm

The nonprofit transformed the former Indiana University Campus Farm into a volunteer-run site in Bloomington.

Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Organic Food

Bold vector editorial illustration of a wooden garden bed filled with fresh produce, representing a new community farm. — The Sobremesa Foundation has reopened the former Indiana University Campus Farm in Bloomington as the new Daisy Garton Community Farm. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Sobremesa Foundation officially reopened the former Indiana University Campus Farm in June 2026 as the Daisy Garton Community Farm. The project continues the agricultural site's legacy by serving the local public through volunteer-led produce cultivation.

Why it matters

The site provides essential access to fresh food for residents who depend on public transit, walking, or biking to reach local resources. By integrating community labor, the initiative maintains a consistent supply of produce for local charitable organizations.

The farm occupies a 5-acre property leased from Bloomington Restorations Inc. The site's weekly farm stand operates on Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The players

Sobremesa Foundation

This nonprofit organization manages the newly established community farm and coordinates volunteer agricultural initiatives.

Bloomington Restorations Inc.

This organization serves as the property owner that leases the land to the foundation for agricultural use.

Exodus Refugee

This organization maintains a long-standing partnership with the farm to provide agricultural training and skills development.

Pantry 279

This local food resource center receives recurring produce donations from the community farm.

Community Kitchen

This local organization relies on fresh food contributions harvested by volunteers at the farm.

The details

The farm utilizes a volunteer model to foster agricultural participation while donating harvest yields to Pantry 279 and Community Kitchen. This setup follows the conclusion of operations by the IU Food Institute and the subsequent transition from the Ostrom Workshop Food and Agrarian Systems Program.

The Sobremesa Foundation began an agricultural skills partnership with Exodus Refugee in 2022.
The IU Food Institute ended its operations at the site in 2023.
The Ostrom Workshop Food and Agrarian Systems Program concluded its management in 2025.
Operations officially resumed at the new farm site in June 2026.
The farm stand operating season is scheduled to conclude on October 28, 2026.

Culture Shift

The conversion of this university site reflects the growing trend of transforming institutional land into community-led agricultural hubs. This transition mirrors broader shifts toward localized food security models that replace conventional institutional oversight with volunteer-based participation.

Residents can access fresh produce during the farm stand hours each Wednesday throughout the remainder of the season. The volunteer-driven model provides community members with direct opportunities to participate in urban agriculture while supporting local food security efforts.

The takeaway

The transformation of this site demonstrates how volunteer-led foundations can reclaim and revitalize institutional land for the public good. Interested community members should prioritize Wednesday afternoon visits to take advantage of the farm stand before the end of the operating season.

What happens next

The current farm stand season is scheduled to operate through October 28, 2026, at which point the site will conclude its public sales period for the year.