Stunning natural features cover Ohio State’s campus, with spots ranging from the grassy fields of the Oval to Mirror Lake’s shimmering waters. The university’s latest addition may not be as large as its predecessors, but it contains a unique educational component that encourages student involvement and interaction. The site is an extension of the Waterman Student Farm: a garden from which students can pick plants in passing.
The plot was proposed as an edible flower garden, filled with plants like mint, basil, peas and marigolds. This concept was intended to share the messages important to its creators, such as regenerative agriculture, sustainability, connection to the land and food equity. It also teaches students about native plants, pollinator foraging and thinking outside of the grocery aisle when it comes to the ingredients in their meals.
This concept was brought to life through a diverse collaboration of students and faculty alike. The process began with a series of individual Zoom meetings as the idea spread amongst organizations. The clubs shared what they each were advocating for, what their mission statements were and how to combine these philosophies into one. Once the various designs had melded together, the organizations began figuring out architecture, navigation dynamics, location of specific plants, the planting list itself and a setup to facilitate student social interaction.
“It wasn’t a difficult process at all,” said Daniel Ibba, one of the student architects from Student Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (SCASLA) who worked on the project. “It was actually fun to see the different, unique perspectives and to hear about how they approach their food and everyone's common interests.”
Once plans were in place and funding was secured with the help of InFACT, Initiative for Food and AgriCulture Transformation, and the Sustainability Institute, the student leaders organized a series of volunteer workdays with the Student Growing Collaborative. After initial seeding, the plant specimens grew in the greenhouse until it was time for planting. Volunteers spent the first two days removing weeds and preparing the plot for the garden and spent the next three days planting the greenhouse-grown seedlings.
“What I really love about the garden is that it shows that even as a small group of students, just a fraction of the 30,000 undergraduates, we can make an impact on the community. If you have an idea and the resources, it’s possible,” said Jillian Horan, one of the student leaders of the project.
The garden has a QR code that identifies the species and how they can be eaten. Students are free to walk by and just grab a flower to take home and use in a dish. Additionally, a bench is scheduled to be built in order to foster a sense of community and relaxation.
“I love the garden! The colors and beautiful plants always brighten my day before I go to class,” said Ilona Ovestrud, an undergraduate student who has her physics lab and recitation in Smith Lab.
Now that the garden has been planted, there isn’t an excessive amount of additional maintenance required. Currently, the student farm employees and InFACT members monitor the garden, watering it, weeding it and taking care of plants that die. As the students whose labor established the garden graduate, its contents might transform as it passes from student organization to student organization, but the spirit of its creators will last long into the future.
Story by: Aurora Ellis, student communications assistant