Spring Break
Educational garden could come to University campus
DALLAS DUNCAN
Issue date: 6/4/09 Section: News
The University's East Campus might be getting a new agricultural landmark in the fall thanks to the efforts of Athens P.L.A.C.E. and the student organization UGArden.
"We're asking permission to have a highly visible educational garden on UGA's main campus," said Craig Page, executive director of Athens Promoting Local Agriculture & Cultural Experience, in a telephone interview.
Page, along with the officers of UGArden, submitted their completed proposal to the grounds department of the Physical Plant June 1. Page said the proposal lists three possible locations for a campus-community vegetable garden - near the Ramsey Center, in the Geography/Geology quad or on North Campus at Lumpkin Street.
Page said the garden will be "following organic guidelines, but will not seek certification." He hopes creating positions such as garden manager can provide students internship opportunities.
P.L.A.C.E. and UGArden will partner with Southern Seed Legacy, a nonprofit seed networking and exchange project, Page said. SSL, housed in Baldwin Hall as part of the anthropology department, will be "providing [the garden] with some seeds for the communal plot," and the garden will in turn be able to help "maintain their living seed bank."
Cara Sipprelle, a graduate student from Los Angeles and employee of SSL said she saw this as a "really great opportunity to provide seeds to a great organization." Most of the seeds SSL has are "adapted to the Athens climate" and will grow well in the garden.
Chris Cary, a senior from Leesburg, said UGArden is proposing a "nominal participation fee" in order for "gardeneers" to have an individual plot.
The fee will cover seeds, soil and other inputs, and UGArden's goal is to have the fee be less than $20, he said. Cary said the garden is open to anyone in the Athens community and students do not have to major in an agricultural field to participate.
The garden will be a combination of a communal and individual plots. Its dimensions are to be determined by the Physical Plant.
"We're asking permission to have a highly visible educational garden on UGA's main campus," said Craig Page, executive director of Athens Promoting Local Agriculture & Cultural Experience, in a telephone interview.
Page, along with the officers of UGArden, submitted their completed proposal to the grounds department of the Physical Plant June 1. Page said the proposal lists three possible locations for a campus-community vegetable garden - near the Ramsey Center, in the Geography/Geology quad or on North Campus at Lumpkin Street.
Page said the garden will be "following organic guidelines, but will not seek certification." He hopes creating positions such as garden manager can provide students internship opportunities.
P.L.A.C.E. and UGArden will partner with Southern Seed Legacy, a nonprofit seed networking and exchange project, Page said. SSL, housed in Baldwin Hall as part of the anthropology department, will be "providing [the garden] with some seeds for the communal plot," and the garden will in turn be able to help "maintain their living seed bank."
Cara Sipprelle, a graduate student from Los Angeles and employee of SSL said she saw this as a "really great opportunity to provide seeds to a great organization." Most of the seeds SSL has are "adapted to the Athens climate" and will grow well in the garden.
Chris Cary, a senior from Leesburg, said UGArden is proposing a "nominal participation fee" in order for "gardeneers" to have an individual plot.
The fee will cover seeds, soil and other inputs, and UGArden's goal is to have the fee be less than $20, he said. Cary said the garden is open to anyone in the Athens community and students do not have to major in an agricultural field to participate.
The garden will be a combination of a communal and individual plots. Its dimensions are to be determined by the Physical Plant.
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