By Kim Groce, Divisional Counselor in Humanities, Social & Behavioral Sciences
CORE stands for Campus Orchard Rejuvenating Energy. But it also stands for
- Hard work
- Commitment
- Sharing ideas
- Volunteers
- Challenges
- Beauty
- Food
- And DEER
This project was designed to include everyone on campus. This is an opportunity to learn about organic gardening, hoop-house farming, farm-to-table eating. It is also designed to help reconnect people through food. The hope is that students and faculty will use the space to teach, but it is a space for anyone to volunteer their time and expertise in helping to sustain the growing project.
The project started two years ago, and in February 2014 we began planting our first
seeds in the LA Greenhouse. On June 20, 2014 with the help of Grounds & Maintenance
crew, Nifty Hoops, and ten volunteers, we built the hoop-house. Our first class came
out just minutes after the site was completed and planted our herb beds. Business
students developed our marketing campaign for the garden and a Facebook page and a
Blog was started. Construction Management built several shelving benches for us with
their students. WTMC Sciences students planted and painted rocks to add to the site.
Through the end of June we had four volunteers who helped plant, weed, and water and manage the crops. It was a lot of hard work; early mornings, late evenings, weekends and holidays were spent tending to crops. The Core Gardenalso had our share of challenges; we had a crops fail, water issues, and all of our volunteers leave for six weeks during the summer.
This summer we savored the beauty of the sunflowers that brought in bees and hummingbirds to the garden. We also witnessed the peas and squash, beans and collards become a buffet for the deer. We amended the crop plan…twice, adjusted to the weather conditions and in the end we came out with six of the seven varieties of delicious tomatoes, cucumbers, rainbow chard, kale, beets, and several varieties of peppers and of herbs that grew perfectly.
To date the CORE garden has welcomed over 175 students who have tasted and learned
about growing, and we have several groups scheduled to come out this semester to help
with projects. We have also given away harvest and easy recipes to many of our students.
This fall and winter, we will attempt to grow hearty greens in the hoop, including
spinach, lettuces, kale, beets and collard greens.
I wanted to grow the college in a different direction. I wanted to get people talking and sharing their expertise in a college wide project that involved food. Food brings people together and some of the best conversations have been shared with food. Why not educate student on growing food and all the benefits and expand it to include everyone on campus in the conversation? The idea was well received but it took time and planning. It is grown by leaps and bounds and it supports needy students, volunteers, and now the Culinary Arts department. But in order to be sustainable, which is the goal it will continue to need helping hands, positive energy and the expertise of many moving towards one goal.
Let’s grow together.
Watch the growth on the CORE Garden Facebook page or our blog, WCC CORE Garden.
