By Obersy Robles Valdez
The Scene staff
Forest Park faculty and staff are trying their hands at container gardening on campus.
They’re growing tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, cucumbers and other vegetables and herbs in the courtyard between the Hospitality Studies building and former cafeteria.
Biology professor Angela NewMyer spearheaded the garden project during the college’s COVID-19 shutdown.
“Originally, the group was only three people,” she said. “But now that this group has become a whole committee, we’ve decided to make the presence of the plants a little bigger.”
The committee has 17 members. For now, it only includes faculty and staff.
Garden produce goes to the Archers Market, a small food pantry for Forest Park students that also carries cleaning products and clothes.
“For enrolled students, if you have a basic need that isn’t being met, feel free to check in with your A number, and once that’s completed, take what you need,” said Everardo Avila Jr., basic needs support specialist. “It’s all free of charge.”
The Archers Market is on the second floor of the Student Center in SC-256, next to the Family Resource Center.
The garden committee plans to expand the number of plants in the courtyard next spring and create a program to get students involved.
In the meantime, plants that are already growing will be moved to the campus greenhouse for the winter. It’s on the fourth floor of the East classroom.
“Gardening is very important,” said Alicia Cloyd, a faculty member in anatomy and physiology who serves on the garden committee. “It helps us to provide for students.”
