SPARKS, Md. - Offering his lunch guests a touch of cool watermelon on a warm Saturday afternoon, Steven Knapp instructs his eating companions to be careful what they throw away.
Watermelon rinds? Save them. It's sheep feed.
Plastic plates? Give them a scrubbing and keep them handy for later use.
On the new University president's farm in suburban Maryland, those enjoying Knapp's hospitality don't leave without a crash course in conservation. Everything from food discards to flatware to even his livestock's excrement (used as fertilizer for the vegetable garden) serves an environmentally friendly purpose on his 6 1/2-acre property.
"So far as you can, everyone needs to be intentionally responsible and think about the impact they have on the environment," said Knapp, a 56-year-old who just as easily can put on a suit and loafers as he can a tan Canadian hiking hat and waterproof sandals.
Born in North Jersey, educated at two Ivys and an Oakland, Calif. resident for 16 years, Knapp might not seem the agrarian type. But after taking a post at Johns Hopkins University in late 1994, the once-city dweller went "green" - well before it became a popular movement.
With about 85 percent of his property undeveloped, Knapp could have sold part of his back lot to be built upon, but then-dean of Hopkins' liberal arts school said he would have none of that.
"Preserving green space is important," he said. Wanting the space to remain a pasture, he rebuffed deals to slice off his grassy backyard.
But that wasn't enough.
Why have a pasture if it's vegetation served no purpose? Livestock could live off the land, Knapp figured, and it would be a welcome addition to property that was originally a tenant farm in the 19th century. (Not to mention, "It took eight hours to trim the grass, so we needed something to eat it.")
Horses are too expensive, a bit too difficult to maintain. Goats are too hard to catch. So the Knapp family - Steven, his wife Diane, and children Jesse and Sarah - decided on sheep.
Watermelon rinds? Save them. It's sheep feed.
Plastic plates? Give them a scrubbing and keep them handy for later use.
On the new University president's farm in suburban Maryland, those enjoying Knapp's hospitality don't leave without a crash course in conservation. Everything from food discards to flatware to even his livestock's excrement (used as fertilizer for the vegetable garden) serves an environmentally friendly purpose on his 6 1/2-acre property.
"So far as you can, everyone needs to be intentionally responsible and think about the impact they have on the environment," said Knapp, a 56-year-old who just as easily can put on a suit and loafers as he can a tan Canadian hiking hat and waterproof sandals.
Born in North Jersey, educated at two Ivys and an Oakland, Calif. resident for 16 years, Knapp might not seem the agrarian type. But after taking a post at Johns Hopkins University in late 1994, the once-city dweller went "green" - well before it became a popular movement.
With about 85 percent of his property undeveloped, Knapp could have sold part of his back lot to be built upon, but then-dean of Hopkins' liberal arts school said he would have none of that.
"Preserving green space is important," he said. Wanting the space to remain a pasture, he rebuffed deals to slice off his grassy backyard.
But that wasn't enough.
Why have a pasture if it's vegetation served no purpose? Livestock could live off the land, Knapp figured, and it would be a welcome addition to property that was originally a tenant farm in the 19th century. (Not to mention, "It took eight hours to trim the grass, so we needed something to eat it.")
Horses are too expensive, a bit too difficult to maintain. Goats are too hard to catch. So the Knapp family - Steven, his wife Diane, and children Jesse and Sarah - decided on sheep.
