Class project features edible landscaping

In time, a dull patch of grass between the sidewalk and Valders could be transformed into an edible garden through the efforts of three environmental philosophy students.

As a sustainability project for Jon Jenson’s environmental philosophy class, Elsa McCarger (‘11), Nathan Hecht (’11) and Victoria Blanco (‘10) are striving toward creating a garden on campus that will work both on an aesthetic and education level.

Others in the class are creating proposals involving recycling, mowing, solar power and trashcan availability on campus.

“Most are proposals for something that could happen eventually, since it’s hard to put an entire plan into action in one semester,” McCarger said. “We obviously can’t start planting a garden in the winter.”

The group developed their idea after learning about local organic gardener David Cavagnaro, who helped the Winneshiek Medical Center create a successful edible garden.

“We’re planning on getting him involved with our project,” McCarger said.

Blanco hopes the garden will inspire other students to create their own sustainable gardens and open students’ eyes to the process of growing food.

“If students see the garden on their way to class, they can use ideas for their own gardens in the future,” Blanco said. “Our goal is to use [the garden] as an educational tool to raise students’ awareness about where their food comes from.”

Blanco sees the garden as a small step toward change.

“It won’t be a huge step toward reducing our carbon footprint, but it could change how people think about the potential of a lawn,” Blanco said.

One of the group’s goals is to raise awareness that an alternative aesthetic can work on campus.

“The garden would show that landscaping can be beautiful without short mowed grass,” Hecht said.

While no official decisions
have yet been made, the students have talked to the grounds crew and plan to take a formal 
proposal to the Land Use Committee.

“[Grounds] informally agreed on a small plot by Valders,” said Blanco.

Because of its small size, the garden’s primary purpose will not be production, although Hecht hopes Luther students will get to taste things from it.

“Jon suggested hosting events where people can come to the garden and sample things,” Hecht said.

The group already has plans for what they would like to grow.

“We’ll start out with mostly annual plants since we don’t know how the project will be received,” McCargar said.

The trio will continue their project throughout the year and hope the project lasts beyond their time at Luther.