Environmental Club Grows With Expansion of Garden
Kati Helm
Issue date: 2/22/10 Section: In Brief
The Environmental Club has been making some changes this school year. Their goal is to educate the campus and the community on environmental issues and the difference that people can make. One of the best ways the club members have found to raise awareness was by starting the community garden.
It's been a long journey for those involved with the garden. Located behind the intramural fields and across the creek, the garden has flooded several times this year every time heavy rains fell since it began last spring. The members planted several crops including arugula, mustard greens, collard greens, kohlrabi, and endive. However, after months of difficulties associated with its location, primarily the flooding, the members of the club made the decision to relocate the community garden this semester.
After the garden gets settled in its new location at the old archery range past the baseball field on County Road 10, the club members plan to rent out garden plots for a small fee. Plots will be available to students, faculty, and any member of the community, and everyone will have the opportunity to grow what they choose. The garden also has a composting station, for which the club collects coffee grounds from places around town.
Environmental Club president Christoph Berenotto is enthusiastic about the garden's future, especially with spring coming on. "With a new location, the experience and new contacts we've gained, it will be significantly better this year," he said. Berenotto said he hopes that the garden's success will bring increased public awareness.
Aside from their progress with the community garden, the club has been hosting Monday night documentary screenings over potluck dinners. Last semester, the club also held a "Trash Challenge" in which all participants carried their unrecycled, uncomposted trash everywhere with them for a week in order to raise awareness of their waste making habits. This past Novermber, the club also organized the annual potluck Vegetarian Thanksgiving dinner.
With the new semester, the club has some new ideas. They plan to hold an "Alley Cat" bicycle race to promote cycling culture on campus. "This is something the community could be involved in," Berenotto explained. "Montevallo is a convenient town for cycling. We should take advantage of it." It is hoped that the events and the garden will make an impact on the people of Montevallo.
If you are interested in the Environmental Club, find the group on Facebook, "UM Environmental Club," or attend the meetings at 3:30 pm on Wednesdays in Harman 103.
It's been a long journey for those involved with the garden. Located behind the intramural fields and across the creek, the garden has flooded several times this year every time heavy rains fell since it began last spring. The members planted several crops including arugula, mustard greens, collard greens, kohlrabi, and endive. However, after months of difficulties associated with its location, primarily the flooding, the members of the club made the decision to relocate the community garden this semester.
After the garden gets settled in its new location at the old archery range past the baseball field on County Road 10, the club members plan to rent out garden plots for a small fee. Plots will be available to students, faculty, and any member of the community, and everyone will have the opportunity to grow what they choose. The garden also has a composting station, for which the club collects coffee grounds from places around town.
Environmental Club president Christoph Berenotto is enthusiastic about the garden's future, especially with spring coming on. "With a new location, the experience and new contacts we've gained, it will be significantly better this year," he said. Berenotto said he hopes that the garden's success will bring increased public awareness.
Aside from their progress with the community garden, the club has been hosting Monday night documentary screenings over potluck dinners. Last semester, the club also held a "Trash Challenge" in which all participants carried their unrecycled, uncomposted trash everywhere with them for a week in order to raise awareness of their waste making habits. This past Novermber, the club also organized the annual potluck Vegetarian Thanksgiving dinner.
With the new semester, the club has some new ideas. They plan to hold an "Alley Cat" bicycle race to promote cycling culture on campus. "This is something the community could be involved in," Berenotto explained. "Montevallo is a convenient town for cycling. We should take advantage of it." It is hoped that the events and the garden will make an impact on the people of Montevallo.
If you are interested in the Environmental Club, find the group on Facebook, "UM Environmental Club," or attend the meetings at 3:30 pm on Wednesdays in Harman 103.
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