WOODLAND HILLS : Pierce Farm Heritage Is Focus of Coalition

Hoping to gain momentum from a change in presidents and the apparent demise of a nearby development plan, a group supporting Pierce College’s agricultural heritage has refocused its efforts on promoting the embattled college farm as a useful oasis in Los Angeles.

The Coalition to Save Pierce College Farm, which helped spearhead opposition to the planned dumping of 425,000 cubic yards of dirt on the 240-acre farm, will channel its energies into crop and animal programs now that plans to move topsoil from Warner Ridge have been put on hold, said coalition President Margo Murman.

“There are all kinds of local organizations and people who would be thrilled to help out on the farm,” Murman said. “But there has been no mechanism on campus to recruit them. It’s something that just can’t be done by the instructors. It’s too big.”

The coalition, which formed in 1990 when budget cuts at Pierce began to threaten agricultural programs, has big hopes for the farm.

The vineyards and groves and orchards of citrus, avocados, apples, figs, pears and plums are badly in need of new funds. The nursery could possibly be developed into a moneymaker for the farm. Rodeos, horse and dog-herding shows and other events could be held there on a regular basis.

“I know the interest is out there,” Murman said. “We just need to open the farm to the public. This is one of the only places in Los Angeles that urban kids can get hands-on experience with plants and animals.”

Murman said the coalition of 1,400 mostly Valley-based farm supporters plans to ask newly appointed Pierce President Mary Lee to support outside efforts to rejuvenate the cash-poor farm.

Lee, who took agriculture classes at Pierce during the late 1970s, may be an easy sell. But she said she needs to meet farm supporters before making any commitments.

“The first question is where their organization fits in with the college,” Lee said. “But I certainly think the farm is a tremendous asset to the college. And I don’t oppose dirt coming onto the farm, as long as it’s used to landscape, and not just as a layer on top of everything. It requires some well-thought-out planning.”

The key, said Murman, will be to establish an organization sanctioned by Pierce College--whether or not it is the coalition--that will raise outside funds for farm upkeep.

Pierce was founded in 1947 as an agricultural school, but suffered severe cutbacks as Pierce’s student body and resources dwindled in recent years.

Murman said the coalition will model its farm support, in part, on the efforts of Friends of Pierce Pool, a group of local swimmers who organized last year when administrators threatened to close the outdoor pool.

That group secured the donation of a pool heater, a water purification system and a replastering job through public grants and private gifts.