CHLOE KOWALYK
Asst. News Editor
Have you noticed the new fencing and flowers around the garden next to the Science Center greenhouse?
A group of five students: Abby Hart, Jules Hoepting, Meg Munro, Sydney Schawartzott and Yuwan Ilano were hand-picked by Dr. Christina Jarvis to take her ENGL 399 Sustainability Living Laboratory class.
All about experimenting with ways to be sustainable, the class allowed students to propose their own goals as well as working to revitalize the garden on campus.
Students also participated in growing transplants in the greenhouse and community outreach.
Located in front of the greenhouse attached to the Science Center, the garden has humble beginnings, but is sure to be luscious with crops and other plants very soon.
On Thursday, May 6, the students held a “Art Gala Garden Ceremony” to showcase the new garden and their hard work throughout the semester.
The gala was in-person, and featured many activities such as rock and flag painting, tours of the greenhouse and art showcases. Even a few plants were given away to attendees.
The event began with a few words by Jarvis, who recognized the contributions and various accomplishments of each of the students.
The students also said that they plan to turn their efforts into a club on campus, which they hope to call “Fred Grows.”
According to Hart, the overarching goal of the club is to “in some small ways, make the campus more sustainable.”
The campus garden would also give back to SUNY Fredonia and its students.
The produce from the garden, which should be fully grown by August, will be given to Cranston Marche, Dean Messino, who teaches cooking classes for professors and even to the food pantry in the Williams Center.
“We have literally every vegetable you can think of,” said Hart.
The campus garden grows snow peas, snap peas, tomatoes, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, peppers, onions, chives and several other kinds of herbs.
Hoepting said, “seeing how many people [were] interested and want[ed] there to be [a garden] on campus” through on-campus seed and plant giveaways was really exciting to her.
Munro was passionate about studying the connection between improving mental health and gardening throughout the semester, which she feels she achieved through Jarvis’ help.
Much to the delight of the students, SUNY Fredonia’s president, Stephen Kolison, came to check out the gala and the garden.
Knowing how much Kolison enjoys radishes, the students decided to have him harvest the first radish of the season.
Kolison eagerly accompanied Hart as they went into the greenhouse to pick the radish.
Several other students showed up to participate in the activities and view the garden.
Jarvis felt the event was a success.
She exclaimed that she was very proud of her students, and that the garden will bring a positive change to campus.
Back in 2008, sustainability was major on campus, but since the pandemic, it has dwindled.
Jarvis says that coming out of the pandemic, “we all need hope.”
SUNY Fredonia students are ready for some good, positive changes on campus, and the campus garden will surely bring that.