The garden, located in the nursery behind Science South, near the greenhouse, will be run and operated by student volunteers with staff supervision.
Matt Bell
-Staff Writer-
This semester at STLCC-Meramec begins the campus’ first student volunteer maintained community garden.
The garden, located in the nursery behind Science South, near the greenhouse, will be run and operated by student volunteers with staff supervision.
The project, suggested by horticulture club member Tim Potthoff, was designed as an educational community service program.
“It’s an idea proposed for the enrichment of the campus and as an opportunity for students to learn about gardening and to show off their good will,” Potthoff said.
Still in early stages of development, the garden has yet to have a formal budget or sponsor, but has been surviving based on donations and volunteer work from staff members and the horticulture club.
“The idea is that students can grow food crops for the needy that can be sold at the campus or donated to a larger distribution company, such as Gateway Greening, for example,” said Paul Roberts, science teacher and horticulture director.
Gateway Greening is a St. Louis based non-profit organization that works with schools and communities to provide volunteer managed gardens and general community revitalization through education and charity. They also provide grants to new local community gardens yearly, according to their website.
According to the American Community Gardening Association, community gardens are on the rise. In 2010, 20,000 existed across the U.S.
“As a poor student, I would definitely be interested in a garden like this. I feel like we’ve lost the ability to grow our own food and that it is a skill that I would like to pick up and rediscover for myself, and would like to meet others who would do the same,” student Hassen Bashir said.
Another student, Anthony Austwick, said he wouldn’t be interested in maintaining the garden.
“I think it would be a cool idea, but I wouldn’t use it myself because I’m not a gardener,” student Austwick said. “But I do think that it would add to the campus’ strengths.”
Regardless of whether or not students would choose to participate, Potthoff said the garden will have a positive impact on the campus.
“The land is being tilled and seeds have been ordered for fall crops, so we encourage students to volunteer and show their interest in helping those in need and learn how to really be a gardener,” Roberts said
Students that wish to participate in the community garden are encouraged to take their inquiries either to the horticulture department located in the science west building, or contact Potthoff by going to the Student governance office on the second floor of the student center.
“It’s an idea suggested for the enrichment of the campus and as an opportunity for students to learn about gardening and to show off their good will,” Potthoff said.
