If you love the idea of a self-sufficient garden that can bring a college community together, or you just enjoy working with dirt, you should check out Foothill College’s newgarden and see what it has to offer.

Upon first glance, the new organic garden at Foothill appears to be a simple, tucked into parking Lot 3. But like the several root vegetables that grow there, much more is hidden beneath the surface. Mia Casey, the sustainability coordinator at Foothill and driving force behind the garden, reveals the true scope of the garden.

“It’s more like a community than just a garden,” Casey says referring to the excellent faculty interaction that has come about with the project.   

With a project name like “Cultivating Community,” several departments should be involved with the garden, and the community at Foothill doesn’t disappoint. 

The Engineering Club and a landscaping class helped construct the garden area, and set up an outdoor classroom. To be used by English classes. A ceramics professor plans on featuring student art in a sculpture garden on the site. Art students have begun painting a mural on the garden shed. 

The Foothill Café donates used coffee grounds to use in compost. The biological chemistry classes are conducting controlled experiments to see how organic growing methods produce in comparison to biodynamic methods.   

Students don’t have to be enrolled in any of the classes or clubs to help. Those who want to volunteer and help reduce the carbon footprint are always welcome. 

Casey said this project has been rewarding for her and the people helping.  In little over a year they have renovated horticulture club site, raised money for their new garden shed and begun their goal of creating a curriculum that incorporates the principals of eco–sustainability.  

Casey is excited to see the classes in the garden learning about topics including world hunger, food production and local eating. Students are not the only ones doing the learning.  “It’s neat when the students come out and teach you stuff. You think you’re here to teach them and they teach you!” she said. 

Volunteers perform most of the work. Casey encourages anyone interested in helping out to come to the official Garden Day Nov. 18 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Questions about the garden or sustainability can be sent to Casey via e-mail at [email protected].