Corrections: Due to a reporting error, the article has been updated to reflect corrections, including the fact that the garden is not guaranteed and the location is proposed, as well as the reference to the aquaponics system (previously referred to as composting).

Growing Green, a new club starting on campus, has a slogan, “Big enough to make a difference, small enough to care.” and nowhere can this philosophy be better seen with the new plan from the group than its hope to build a community garden here on campus. 

“Our hope for the community garden is to make a space for students to be able to grow,” Melinda Kilpatrick, the head of Growing Green and secretary for the Student Sustainability Committee said. “Each student or group on campus would have a plot where they’re able to grow and produce their own organic food.”

The community garden is proposed to be on the west side of campus behind the Police Academy, and will have 20 plots available for students. Plots will be handed out at a first-come-first-serve process, with a way to request a plot being announced later this semester. 

“Our goal is to use the permaculture principles to grow as much as we can in a limited amount of space,” Kilpatrick said. “They would be able to grow whatever they want as long as it’s not able to cross pollinate, so absolutely no corn.”

According to Kilpatrick, many of the potential crops are already in the process of being grown inside the green house on campus, including spinach, cauliflower, cabbage, and a number of different herbs. These are all being planted and cared for by students in what they are calling a ‘living learning lab’.”

The garden itself won’t open until after the last freeze; sometime around Mother’s Day. However, for those interested in an open house Garden Party, it will be held at the on campus farm on April 30th, more details on that event will come in the future.

“We’ve been working on this since last semester,” Kilpatrick said. “We just want to be able to provide organically grown fruits and vegetables to our students so it enables them to have a healthier diet.”

In the meantime, Kilpatrick, the SSC, and Growing Greens are not done yet with plans to open a fruit and veggie stand in the Student Center, and plans to continue donations of freeze dried goods grown on campus. Not only that, but the group also provides some food for the JCCC culinary program. We were also shown another project in the green house, an aquaponics system that will utilize a tank of around 50 fish to grow greener. 

“The really cool thing about our organization is we have people that have various skills that have gathered together to bring awareness to the farm,” Kilpatrick said. “You will not find more passion or dedication than this group.”