Garden springs forth
Real life practice becomes 'extension' of theme 'Feast or Famine'
Stefanie Wang
Issue date: 9/3/08 Section: News
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The garden will consist of five 90-foot beds of crops-to-be. The men's soccer team came out last Tuesday to build the first garden bed. The others were left to the freshman volunteers. "Four out of five boxes are from old bleachers from Madigan Gym," said Associate Dean of the School of Liberal Arts Shawny Anderson. "We're being truly sustainable."
Organizations involved with the garden include: Project Green, the School of Liberal Arts, Sodexho, Buildings and Grounds, the Physical Plant, Student Involvement and Leadership, New Student Programs, Residence Life, Student Life, campus deans and directors, and Transitions Committee.
"One of the main goals Project Green has for the…garden is [to be] able to grow delicious and healthy produce and bring it straight to [Oliver Hall] for all of us to enjoy," said Theresa Hayes '11. Hayes is one of the three coordinators for Project Green. "We'll start with lettuce and other greens, herbs and broccoli," said Anderson. "These are things that can still make it in this part of the year." Later on, Anderson hopes to add beans, tomatoes, zucchini, carrots and onions to the garden.
"The fact that we put our hard work into it makes it that much more fulfilling," said WoW leader Natalie Aldajani '11. "I think [freshmen] are having fun even though it's hard work." Fellow WoW leader Martin Torres '09 expressed similar sentiments. "Ten years down the road, I'd think it'd be something I would be proud of," said Torres. "It'd be cool to see something we started at Saint Mary's continue; hopefully it'll be bigger."
An on-campus garden has been made possible "largely because of Steve Woolpert, the dean of the school of liberal arts," said Anderson. "He got all the approvals and outside funding to make it happen."
According to Woolpert, Saint Mary's community members have expressed desire for a garden in the past, but it was difficult to find someone to take care of it year-round. The school found Julie Welch, wife of Catholic Institute for Lasallian Social Action (CILSA) Director Marshall Welch. Welch, the co-steward of a community garden in Salt Lake City, Utah for several years, has experience in community gardening.
Woolpert described her as the missing piece in the project, saying her experience and knowledge were essential. In addition to finding a steward for the garden, "the freshman theme 'Feast or Famine' was a perfect tie-in," Woolpert added. Anderson also expressed excitement over the garden. She said, "This idea is a great extension of the freshman theme."
Though the garden will not be enough to support the campus' needs, Welch said they are hoping to promote eating locally sustainable food.
Charise Johnson '12 said, "It's a lot of work, but a lot of fun." For her, the best part of this project was meeting new people and doing something good. "Campus is going to so much healthier," said Johnson.
"And more environmentally friendly," added friend Shahar Flemmings '12.
Another aspect of community impact is involvement. "This will definitely increase the number of people involved in community service," said Torres. "Not only is it close by, but it benefits the Saint Mary's campus."
Welch hopes every residential floor will work once a semester so there will be one floor working on the garden each week. "This is a garden for the students, by the students and eventually in the students," she said. Welch said the goal is to "help the students become a part of it and make sure the garden stays here in the summer."
"I'd participate in the rest of the year," said Lankford as he dug a hole for a post. "It's hard ground, but it's worth it."