You can smell it in the air. The snow is melting, birds are signing, and before you know it, the very first buds will burst forth from the trees! SPRING IS HERE!
Okay, maybe we aren't quite there yet but it certainly is time to start thinking about your garden.
Devoted fans of our office already know that we offer community garden plots through a partnership with the SFUO and OPIRG. The plots are first come, first serve and I would be remiss if I didn't tell you to book a space right now if you want one.
But this isn't a post about our community gardens, well not exactly. This summer, the Office of Campus Sustainability, will be conducting an agricultural demonstration project. We are hoping to prove that we can grow food on campus that could be sold on campus. At the same time we are also hoping to create a new green space.
But rather than telling you what we are trying to do, how about I just show you what we have in mind.
Now, there is no way that we are going to be able to replicate something on this scale but there is no reason that we can't try. Our base of operations will be the UCU Terrace.
So here is the game plan;
- We are collecting as many 15L and 20L buckets as we can. The cafeteria has generously agreed to give us all the buckets they have. We are hoping to get about 200 in total.
- We have started growing seedlings to put into some of our buckets. (Check out our innovative seed starters created from recycled containers in the title image).
- We are going to try to get a bunch of compost from our super duper worm composter to boost the soil quality.
And now, this is what we need.... VOLUNTEERS!
We don't have any money and the only resources we will be able to muster will come from donations. But we still believe that we can create a beautiful space and we believe that this pilot project will be the pivotal step that allows to grow cafeteria food on campus.
Volunteers will be asked to give a couple of hours a weeks to help us water the plants, prune them, collect fruits and vegetables, and of course help us donate the food to the food bank/
If you are interested in being a part of this one of a kind experiment, please contact Jonathan Rausseo for more details.
~ jON - campus sustainability manager