CHARLES PRITCHARD
Staff Writer
It took two years of work. It was proposed many, many times by different people. But time and again, it was turned down.
Finally, though, a garden is coming to Fredonia and the student who spearheaded the event couldn’t be happier.
Zachary Beaudoin is an English and international studies dual major and takes part in many of the clubs and associations on campus. He is chair of Environmental Relations, Fredonia United Nations president, president of Sierra Club Fredonia, a Global Student ambassador and student committee member, and on the FSA Board of Directors.
Needless to say, he’s quite a busy individual, but his dedication is evident. Beaudoin, with support from both the Sierra Club and the Student Committee, wrote a 40-page proposal detailing prospective benefits of this garden.
On Oct. 23 and 24, a diverse group of campus community members began to dig behind the Science Center greenhouse.
The stated goal is to create a garden — open to students — that will provide healthy, organic food.
“It’s a 40-by-40 [foot] spot. Come spring, we’re going to plant fruit trees along it … and we might end up putting in blueberry bushes and things along that line. The goal is to have enough things growing that students can go and pick up.
“On top of that, we’re going to reserve plots for groups and students. Professors and groups get priority for their classes,” he continued. “And what’s left can go to any student to plant what they will.”
Beaudoin said that it will be a first come, first served basis for the garden, and that there will be guidelines to be followed.
“This will be a completely organic garden. No pesticides, nothing like that,” he said.
Dr. Jonathan Titus, a biology professor at Fredonia, has an interest in the garden and is overseeing two of Fredonia’s native plant gardens.
“Well, in today’s world [there] are so many,” Titus said, when asked about any pests that could impact the garden. “The trick is to plant a varied garden and switch things around every year. Tomatoes get a bad blight, and vegetables like broccoli get a cutworm.”
Much work has been done, but there are still things to consider.
“We’re going to put a fence around the garden to keep things like deer and other animals out,” Beaudoin said. “And if we do end up getting some sort of insect issue, we’ll look into an [insecticide] alternative. Dr. Titus is really big with managing gardens, and we’ll talk with him.”
Also planned are rain barrels to collect water, a shed with the necessary gardening tools, and even rock paths through the garden to ensure students do not step on any growing plots.
“We’re going to build the beds and put the soil in, and when the first frost hits, we’re going to secure the rain barrels, we’re going to buy the shed and put everything down,” said Beaudoin.
All in all, 25 plots are sized out for use by the campus. The garden will benefit everyone in the long run.
“We will be using the greenhouse to start the seeds for the garden, and after the last frost, we’ll transplant them into the garden so we have a jumpstart on the growing season. We’ve even worked out something with the FSA, and they will have a few plots and will be using what they grow in those plots for their dining facilities,” said Beaudoin.
“I mean, you wanna talk about local? We’re going to be able to walk out back and grab some tomatoes.”
Beaudoin said the Fredonia Employee Assistance Program will open a workshop for gardening. Dr. Christina Jarvis will be using it for her community service grant building project and the up-and-coming food studies minor that is in the works.
Beaudoin felt that this garden has been a long time coming.
“We’re gonna have a lot of hands in the soil,” he said.