When Tennis Courts Become Farmland: A College's Bold Answer to Food Insecurity
Food insecurity on college campuses is a growing crisis that affects millions of students across the United States. According to multiple national studies, nearly one in three college students experiences some form of food insecurity during their academic career. While many institutions have responded with food pantries or meal-swipe donation programs, the University of Dayton in Ohio has taken a remarkably different — and deeply sustainable — approach. Its student-run urban farm, known as Flyer Farm, has transformed what were once six abandoned tennis courts into a productive agricultural space that donates thousands of pounds of fresh produce each year while simultaneously offering students a unique, hands-on educational experience.
What Is Flyer Farm and How Did It Begin?
Flyer Farm is the University of Dayton's on-campus urban agriculture initiative, built on the site of six decommissioned tennis courts. Rather than repaving or repurposing the space for another recreational facility, university planners and sustainability advocates envisioned something far more impactful — a working farm at the heart of a Catholic, mission-driven institution committed to social justice and community service.
The project reflects the university's longstanding dedication to both environmental stewardship and addressing systemic inequality. By converting underutilized infrastructure into a food-producing resource, Flyer Farm demonstrates that colleges and universities don't need sweeping policy changes or massive budgets to make a meaningful dent in food insecurity. Sometimes, the solution is growing — quite literally — right in your own backyard.
The Scale of Impact: Thousands of Pounds of Donated Produce
Each growing season, Flyer Farm yields thousands of pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables, much of which is donated directly to students and community members facing food insecurity. This isn't a symbolic gesture — it's a measurable contribution to the nutritional wellbeing of people who might otherwise struggle to afford fresh produce.
The types of crops grown at Flyer Farm are selected both for their nutritional value and for their adaptability to Ohio's climate. Leafy greens, tomatoes, herbs, and seasonal vegetables are among the typical harvests. By prioritizing fresh, nutrient-dense foods over shelf-stable alternatives, Flyer Farm addresses not just hunger but also the nutritional inequality that often accompanies food insecurity — a problem where access to processed, low-cost food is plentiful, but access to fresh produce is not.
The produce is funneled into the university's broader food assistance infrastructure, ensuring it reaches students who need it most, as well as neighboring community organizations in the Dayton area.
Learning by Doing: The Educational Mission of Campus Urban Agriculture
Beyond its humanitarian output, Flyer Farm serves a powerful academic purpose. Student workers and volunteers engage directly with every stage of the agricultural process — from soil preparation and planting to harvesting and distribution. This kind of experiential learning is increasingly valued in higher education, where employers and educators alike recognize that knowledge gained in the field often sticks far more effectively than classroom instruction alone.
Students involved with Flyer Farm gain practical skills in sustainable agriculture, food systems, environmental science, and community development. For students studying disciplines like public health, social work, environmental studies, or even business and nonprofit management, participation in a living laboratory like Flyer Farm offers an invaluable lens through which to understand the intersection of food, equity, and community resilience.
There is also a less tangible but equally important educational benefit: students develop empathy. Working alongside peers who depend on donated produce — or being a recipient themselves — fosters a campus culture of mutual care and solidarity that extends well beyond the farm's borders.
Urban Agriculture as a Model for Higher Education
The Flyer Farm model is one that other colleges and universities would do well to study. Urban agriculture on campus addresses several pressing challenges at once:
- Food insecurity relief: Fresh, locally grown produce is made available to students and community members who need it most, reducing dependence on off-campus food banks and emergency resources.
- Sustainability goals: Campus farms reduce food miles, lower carbon footprints, and model environmentally responsible land use — all priorities for institutions pursuing green campus certifications.
- Student engagement: Farms provide meaningful volunteer and work-study opportunities that connect students to their campus and community in purposeful ways.
- Curriculum integration: Urban agriculture projects can be woven into course requirements across disciplines, enriching the academic experience without requiring new buildings or expensive facilities.
- Community partnerships: Campus farms naturally open doors to collaboration with local nonprofits, food banks, and municipal agencies, strengthening the relationship between institutions and the cities they inhabit.
As the cost of higher education rises and student financial stress deepens, initiatives like Flyer Farm represent a compelling argument for reinvesting in campus infrastructure in ways that serve human needs directly.
Addressing the Root Causes, Not Just the Symptoms
What sets the University of Dayton's approach apart from many institutional food insecurity responses is its orientation toward systemic change rather than stopgap solutions. Food pantries and emergency meal programs are essential, but they are by definition reactive. An urban farm is proactive — it builds capacity, creates resources from scratch, and embeds food production into the daily life of the campus community.
This kind of structural thinking aligns with the broader conversation happening in higher education about how universities can serve as anchor institutions in their communities. When a college commits to growing food on its own land and distributing it equitably, it sends a powerful message: food is not a luxury, and no student should go hungry while pursuing an education.
The Future of Campus Food Systems
The Flyer Farm story is ultimately one of possibility. It shows that a relatively modest investment in land and labor can yield tangible, lasting benefits for students, staff, and surrounding communities. As food insecurity continues to affect a significant share of the college student population, urban agriculture initiatives offer a scalable, values-driven solution that aligns academic mission with social responsibility.
Other institutions looking to replicate this model don't need to start big. A few raised beds, a greenhouse, or even a rooftop garden can serve as the seed of something much larger. The University of Dayton's Flyer Farm began with six unused tennis courts and a vision — proof that meaningful change in higher education often starts with reimagining what's already there.
As colleges nationwide grapple with how to better support their most vulnerable students, the urban agriculture model championed by Flyer Farm offers a roadmap worth following: cultivate the land, cultivate the community, and cultivate the next generation of socially conscious graduates who understand, firsthand, what it means to grow food and give it away.