The purpose of Blandy Experimental Farm is to increase understanding of the natural environment through research and education.

In that natural systems support and increasingly are affected by humans, ecological and environmental literacy are fundamental requirements for citizens, policy-makers, and society as a whole. Blandy Experimental Farm exists to promote this understanding through education and research on plants, plant biology, ecology, evolution, the environmental sciences, and the manner in which all of these are used and affected by humans.

The three principal programs designed to achieve this mission include:

University research and education

Outreach and environmental education

The Orland E. White Arboretum (also known as the State Arboretum of Virginia)

COMMUNITY IMPACT, 2010-2011

Employment
Total People Employed: 42 (19 full time)
Expenditures on wages, salary & benefits: $1,275,417

Extramural Grants
Blandy Experimental Farm attracted $290,055 in grants from federal, state, and private sources.

Service Procurement, most to local contractors
$266,531

Students
College Student Population: 29 graduate and undergraduate students in residence during the year.

Service to the Commonwealth and Community

Educational Programs:
PreK-12: 5727 students served in 291 programs
Teacher development workshops:259 teacher participants
Community Garden
60 local gardeners raised vegetables at Blandy and contributed over 800 pounds of produce to area food banks.
Public Programs
On site: 21 programs to an audience of 480.
Off site: 40 programs to an audience of 1450.

Foundation of the State Arboretum (FOSA) Support to Blandy
$250,000 in direct operating contributions and more than $100,000 in special project funding