Examples of Sustainability
What the class of '09 is leaving behind
Kathryn Fulton
Issue date: 4/30/09 Section: News
The way produce gets to students will also change this year. Eanes says that in the past, Lottie Nelson Dining Hall has purchased shares in the garden, but that this was unsatisfying because students often didn't know whether or not they were eating food from the Grantham Community Garden.
Beginning this summer, produce will be distributed to shareholders only until the end of August, Eanes says. After students return to school, the garden's produce will be sold at a weekly farmer's market on campus.
"We really want students to feel included," Eanes explained. He says that it is important that students know that they can participate both in growing the food and in eating it.
The main purpose of the garden, Webster says, is to provide a very visible example of environmental sustainability on campus; a "tangible vision of what environmental stewardship is all about."
"The intent, then, as it is now," Eanes said, "is to get people to ask the question, 'where does my food come from?'"
One goal of the garden is to create an opportunity for education about sustainable agriculture, according to Webster.
For Eanes, one of the most satisfying parts of working on the garden has been seeing students from a variety of backgrounds and academic disciplines come together to work on the project. While there are science majors working on it, he says, there are also students from fields that seem totally unrelated. Eanes and Webster, for example, are English majors.
"Sustainability isn't just about putting up wind turbines and solar panels," Eanes explained; sustainability is something that everyone can take part in, even if they aren't scientists.
The garden's founders also say that it is good, to get out of the classroom and work with their hands. In an academic setting like Messiah College, Eanes says, "we often get bogged down in theoretical concepts" and forget to apply them.
"Taking a theory and putting it into practice is very rewarding," he said.
Beginning this summer, produce will be distributed to shareholders only until the end of August, Eanes says. After students return to school, the garden's produce will be sold at a weekly farmer's market on campus.
"We really want students to feel included," Eanes explained. He says that it is important that students know that they can participate both in growing the food and in eating it.
The main purpose of the garden, Webster says, is to provide a very visible example of environmental sustainability on campus; a "tangible vision of what environmental stewardship is all about."
"The intent, then, as it is now," Eanes said, "is to get people to ask the question, 'where does my food come from?'"
One goal of the garden is to create an opportunity for education about sustainable agriculture, according to Webster.
For Eanes, one of the most satisfying parts of working on the garden has been seeing students from a variety of backgrounds and academic disciplines come together to work on the project. While there are science majors working on it, he says, there are also students from fields that seem totally unrelated. Eanes and Webster, for example, are English majors.
"Sustainability isn't just about putting up wind turbines and solar panels," Eanes explained; sustainability is something that everyone can take part in, even if they aren't scientists.
The garden's founders also say that it is good, to get out of the classroom and work with their hands. In an academic setting like Messiah College, Eanes says, "we often get bogged down in theoretical concepts" and forget to apply them.
"Taking a theory and putting it into practice is very rewarding," he said.
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