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from the issue of July 17, 2008
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East Campus plots offer growing space
Gardening on campus
BY TROY FEDDERSON, UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
A graduate student helped pull the green thumb of Roger Renken - and dozens of other garden hopefuls - into the sun.
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| | | CAMPUS GARDENS - Roger Renken, research technologist in agronomy and horticulture, waters his garden on East Campus. Agronomy and horticulture offers garden plots to faculty, staff and students each year. Photo by Troy Fedderson/University Communications.
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"We started offering community gardening space on East Campus about 14 years ago," said Renken, a research technologist in agronomy and horticulture. "All the credit goes to Martin Williams, who was an agronomy graduate student at the time."
Williams wanted to grow a few items, but lived in an apartment and space was unavailable. Renken also wanted to garden, but his yard is too shady.
Inspired, Williams approached the department head with an idea to create a community garden. Space was allocated and the gardens opened up east of the Law College 13 season ago - the site has since shifted to the south side of the college.
"It was originally for agronomy and horticulture graduate students, faculty and staff," Renken said. "That changed gradually over the years, and now it's open to everyone on campus."
Renken organized the campus plots for a number of years. Today, the program is managed by Gail Ogden and Denise Wally.
Garden plots are 10 feet by 10 feet and 10 feet by 20 feet. Returning gardeners who follow the plot guidelines - including a requirement to help with site maintenance projects - get first chance to claim a spot each year.
| | GARDEN GREETER - A troll doll greets visitors to the East Campus faculty, staff and student garden plots.
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Due to demand from new gardeners, all remaining plots are awarded via a lottery in March or April.
"We have approximately 39 garden spaces, and this year we had 25 returning gardeners," said Ogden. "We always get a great response from faculty, staff and students who want to garden. We always end up turning people away."
Renken said the space offers a sense of community between the gardeners.
"It's a great because you get to meet so many different people," said Renken. "You also get to see the ways that people are creative in the ways they grow. I learn something new from our gardeners almost every year."
GO TO: ISSUE OF JULY 17
NEWS HEADLINES FOR JULY 17
Southern beetle species moves into Nebraska
Belashchenko honored for magnet study
Rural residents back renewable energy
Crews survey state's tree resources
Engineering begins cooperative learning with Warsaw University of Technology
Gardening on campus
Grant to promote financial literacy among Nebraska students
Proposals sought for Innovation Campus
UNL, Curtis collaborate on dairy project
Water science focus of Hohai collaboration
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