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Sprouting Sustainability, Growing Dreams

A Children’s Community Garden Project

A project by Kevin Anderson, Victoria Burnett, Emma Donachie, and Julia Nehring

Environmental Studies Capstone

University of Kansas

Spring 2014

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Table of Contents

I. Introduction

A. Experiential Education

B. Purpose

C. Background

II. Why a Garden?

III. Wildwood Garden Project

A. Starting Seeds

B. Objectives

C. Wildwood Board

D. Design Decisions

E. Budget

IV. Work Days

A. Visits

B. Sustainable Features

C. Soil composition

D. Soil pH Testing

E. Planting List and Education

V. Conclusion

A. Difficulties

B. Future Plans

C. Reflections

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Introduction

Experiential Education

Summer camp is a place like no other. Wildwood Outdoor Education summer camp is a

place where kids can relax, be surrounded by friends and goofy counselors, and learn

important sustainability principles. Our senior capstone project is dedicated to giving

these campers a community garden in which they can participate in a hands-on

sustainability principle: local food. Qualitative research regarding school gardens

suggests an overall improvement in children’s environment, while quantitative

research revealed positive changes in science achievement and food behavior (Blair).

We, therefore, intend to start a gardening program at Wildwood in hopes of

replicating the successes mentioned in Blair’s research.

Wildwood defines itself by its emphasis on experiential education. Experiential

education is defined differently by various practitioners and exists in many forms.

Generally, it is understood to have four key components: an action that creates an

experience, reflection on the action or experience, abstractions drawn from focused

reflection, and the application of abstractions to a new experience (Itin).

Wildwood’s focus on experiential education, coupled with its dedication to

environmental education, makes the organization a particularly good destination for

garden-building efforts. In a survey taken among Florida elementary schools with

school gardening programs, 97.1% of teacher respondents said that they used gardens

for environmental education and 72.9% said they use gardens for experiential learning

(Skelly). Considering the overwhelming number of respondents who integrated

gardens into experiential learning and environmental education, two of Wildwood’s

key focal points, it seems that a new gardening program would be ideal for the camp.

Purpose

The purpose of this Capstone/sustainability project is to educate young people about

the benefits of gardening and provide the staff and campers of Wildwood Outdoor

Education Center with local, healthy foods by constructing a kitchen garden.

Wildwood Outdoor Education Center is a non-profit summer camp that emphasizes

sustainability principles to a diverse socio-economic group of campers. Their mission

statement is to provide experiential outdoor learning experiences to diverse groups in

the region, immersing young people in an environment that promotes social

interaction and stimulates learning.

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To enhance the mission of Wildwood we intend to build 4X4 raised garden plots that

demonstrate square-foot gardening. We will build a rainwater collection system to

provide water to the gardens as well as develop a curriculum to teach gardening to

young people and maintain the momentum of this project. To keep this last portion of

the plan on track, two of our group members will attend each summer session at

Wildwood to ensure that the gardening program flourishes.

Background

Wildwood Outdoor Education Center is a 501(c)3 charitable organization dedicated to

providing high quality outdoor education to diverse groups throughout the Kansas City

Area. Wildwood is located on a 150 acre property in the wooded hills of La Cygne,

Kansas. Since 1980 Wildwood has provided experiential and environmental education

and leadership training to over 150,000 youth from diverse areas throughout the

Kansas City Metropolitan area, allowing nature to be the classroom in a unique

residential camp setting. In addition to summer programming, Wildwood offers

Outdoor School programs to various schools, churches, and other organizations within

the Kansas City Metropolitan Area and beyond.

Wildwood’s location in La Cygne is a little over an hour away from the University of

Kansas. Planning ahead and timing appropriately were essential to our group so that

we did not waste time or money on gas. Map 1 shows our location relative to La

Cygne.

Map 1

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Why a Garden?

To assist with Wildwood’s mission of providing quality outdoor experiences and

lessons in sustainability to children, our project includes building a raised square foot

garden, a method involving the construction of a small plot and dividing the plot into

square foot sections, with different crops in each section. This method of gardening

will teach campers the skills needed to maintain a home garden. In doing so, they will

learn the importance of knowing where your food comes from and the benefits of

eating food you grow yourself.

One of the first and foremost reasons that come to mind when considering the

benefits of gardening is its financial sensibility. According to the Wall Street Journal,

one dollar spent on green bean seeds can generate $75 worth of produce, and an

average family of four that spends just $70 on a garden can produce $600 of food

(Wall Street Journal). A gardening program provides the potential for the camp to

serve fresh green beans rather than canned green beans; young people may even

discover that they love a vegetable that they once thought they hated. After these

young people’s stay at Wildwood, they will return home having experienced fresh-

from-the-garden veggies, in addition to obtaining fundamental knowledge of

gardening. Many campers will be returning to the urban core where access to fresh

foods is limited.

Gardening is a primary tool for food security. The World Health Organization defined

food security as existing “when everybody always has access to sufficient, safe,

nutritious food to support a healthy, active life” (WHO). Food security includes both

physical and economic access to food that fulfills people's dietary needs and satisfies

their food preferences (World Health Organization year). In the United States an

estimated 14.5 % of households were not food secure at some point in 2012 (Coleman-

Jensen). One cause of food insecurity is the modern food desert, defined as “… parts

of the country vapid of fresh fruit, vegetables, and other healthful whole foods,

usually found in impoverished areas” (Nutrition Digest).

Obesity is a serious issue in Kansas City, Missouri, where the youth obesity rate is

29.7% (Community Health Assessment). While there is debate about the relationship

between obesity and food deserts (Thomsen), both are problems in Kansas City. We

believe that our project can identify both of these issues and began to resolve them

through youth garden education through sources such as sustainablefoodcenter.com

and The Happy Kitchen/ La Cocina Alegre. Because Wildwood serves in large part the

urban core of Kansas City, it makes sense to educate this population about growing

produce, thus providing tools to young people to make their communities food secure.

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Wildwood Garden Project

Starting Seeds

Starting seeds indoors yields an earlier harvest time, saves money as well as insuring

that no harmful chemicals have been added to the plants. Most seeds should be

started about 6 weeks before the last frost date in the area. The Midwest’s last

average frost date is April 19. Highlighted in the table below (2014) are the average

start dates, when to plant outside, as well as the average days of harvest (Average).

Plant Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov

Beans

Broccoli

Carrot

Cucumber

Kale

Melon

Okra

Onion

Peas

Pepper

Tomato

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There are many different ways to start your seeds indoors. We used two different

methods, both of which were successful. We collected cardboard toilet paper rolls

and cardboard paper towel rolls, which were then cut into halves or thirds (Image 1).

These cardboard rolls were then placed into a flat plastic container and filled with

potting soil. After the soil is placed water should be added to create a moist

environment for the seeds. Once the soil has soaked up the water the seeds are able

to be added to the rolls. Place 2-3 seeds per roll, and lightly cover with the potting

soil. You also can press the seeds into the soil instead of covering them. As they grow,

the seedlings will need to be thinned. Thin your seedlings so that there is only one

plant per roll (Image 2).

Image 1

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Image 2

Collecting egg cartons is another method commonly practiced. Following the same

steps as above, filling the egg carton with potting soil and placing the seeds, the

seeds will begin to spout. The egg cartons should also be placed in flat plastic

containers to prevent water leakage.

Objectives

1 Build 4’X4’ boxes to demonstrate “square foot gardening.”

2 Build rain collection systems to water gardens and fences to protect gardens.

3 To develop square foot gardening techniques that can be utilized by staff and campers

4 Develop a hands-on curriculum for gardening to be taught within Wildwood’s program.

5 To provide healthy, delicious recipes that utilize the garden’s vegetables.

6 To provide resources to every child who is interested in creating a garden at their home.

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Building a square foot garden is a method that is easily replicable and can be

accomplished in any financial situation. Image 3 below is a picture of Emma

Donachie’s square foot garden. She replicated it from Mel Bartholomew’s Square Foot

Gardening (Bartholomew).

This concept of replicability is crucial for objective 1 and

3. Kickstarting a gardening program at Wildwood meant

finding a method that is achievable for all experience

levels as well as all socioeconomic classes. Mel

Bartholomew created a Humanitarian program that

outreaches to many developing countries. Image 4 portrays

Square Foot Gardening in Malawi, East Africa

(squarefootgardening.com). This image portrays an

alternative method to constructing the garden using local

materials. This image exemplifies a way to accomplish

objective 6.

Image 3

Objective 5 will be a part of

objective 4. An interactive

cooking program would be a

great way to show how to

harvest the vegetables as well

as prepare them. The Happy

Garden/ La Cocina Alegre ®

recommends cooking classes

as a way to involve the

community in local garden projects. They emphasize buying produce

that is in season because it is much cheaper (sustainablefoodcenter.org). One of the

instructors states in her cooking class’ promotional video, “This Garlic. 50 cents that

will season your food. Makes it taste so good. You don’t need all that meat and grease

and stuff.” La Cocina Alegre is reaching out to a lower income class much like the

demographic that attends Wildwood. Both of the following recipes are examples

created by the Wildwood group using the vegetables that will be in season this

summer.

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Our final objective, objective 2, was successfully implemented

directly east of our garden site. We were able to secure two rain

barrel donations and have them integrated into the rain water

gutters (Image 5). When planting on May 4th we used water from

this source only.

Wildwood On Board

Kevin Anderson, a previous employee of Wildwood Outdoor Education Center and

member of our Capstone class, approached Hank Kapka, program director, with the

idea of implementing a garden at Wildwood. Kevin believed the Capstone class would

provide the perfect opportunity to construct this garden. Wildwood wants a garden to

be implemented because it would create new opportunities for campers to

understand sustainability as well as instill a sense of ownership in the campers, both

of which are fundamental aspects of environmental stewardship.

Design Decisions

Given the resources, time, and expertise of our group we found the best design

approach to be a raised box garden that uses square foot gardening principles. As

stated in Square Foot Garden, “some of your boxes can have bottoms so you can move

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them…for easier care and unique locations” (Bartholomew). This aspect of the garden

will give us an advantage in placement and practicality. This is crucial at a summer

camp because the location will be trial and error. For example, the site is close to the

kickball field so we want to make sure that the garden will not be trampled during

the game. We can move locations if this is the case.

Many sources, like tastefulgarden.com, encourage planting the garden near a kitchen.

At Wildwood, we have planted our garden just outside of the kitchen doors for easy

access to the edible plants.

Square foot gardening was suggested to our group by University of Kansas

permaculture professor, Steve Moring. After e-mailing him the logistics of our site,

like the fact that it is a summer camp and it will be implemented in summer 2014, he

directed us to this method.

Budget

One of the purposes of having a garden is to save money. However, the savings do not

begin until after the upfront costs have been paid. To start the garden, we developed

a budget that totaled over $250 for all the parts needed in construction, as well as

planting materials like soil and seeds. We soon realized, though, that we would

probably not be receiving any money for the project: while applying for various grants

through Jamba Juice, Walmart and Home Depot, we discovered that most garden

grants are created for schools, not summer camps. In addition to working with the

wrong form of educational institution, our timeline did not match those of the grants.

Most grant applications were due in the fall so that gardening groups can begin

making purchases come springtime. Since we did not begin our project until February,

we missed the majority of grant deadlines.

With a few recommendations from colleagues and a lot of persistence, we were able

to obtain essential materials for free and cut our costs in half. Capstone teaching

assistants Anna Kern and Rachel Craft came up with free rain barrels and box garden

materials for us; Earl May donated seeds and Family Tree Nursery gave us a $25 gift

certificate. A website called FreeCycle was also of huge help to us: we posted exactly

what materials we needed and local Lawrence residents responded with the items

they no longer used. Essentially our only large cost in the end was the gas money it

took to drive to Wildwood. The rest of the budget is detailed in Table 1.

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Work days

Because Wildwood is located nearly eighty

miles from the University of Kansas, we had

to strategically plan our trips in order to

make the most of our time. The group drove

out together on three separate occasions

throughout the semester. This section

contains a recap of what we accomplished each day, followed by in-

depth explanations and detailed features of the garden.

On February 19, we scouted potential site locations for the gardens. We decided that

constructing them next to the dining hall would make the most sense for what we call

a “kitchen garden”. Image 6 shows our selected site on the south side of the dining

hall. The area receives full sunlight throughout the day. It is on a slight slope, but the

raised box-style garden should help prevent erosion.

We returned on April 19 but it was still too cold to plant any crops. Two raised bed

gardens were constructed in preparation for planting later on. Image 7 shows a raised

bed near completion.

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Image 7

To build this 4’ x 4’ raised box garden we followed Mel Bartholomew’s protocol from

Square Foot Gardening. The materials are included in the budget table (page 11).

1. Using a drill bit, screw four 4’ by 2”x6” thick boards together to create a square.

2. Place the box in a location where the soil will can be dug up and will receive

plenty of sunshine.

3. Compost, peat moss, and wildwood soil were striated like a layer cake to create

a nurturing soil for vegetables. Approximately 12 ft3 of soil for each box.

4. Hammer lath boards into top of frame to create a crid. This grid should create

16 sq feet sections.

5. Plant according to lists depicted in Grid 1 and Grid 2 (page 13).

The final visit before the submission of this report was May 4. With the risk of frost

finally gone, we were able to plant everything on our list. Grid 1 shows the

arrangement of the seeds sown and seedlings transplanted in the uphill bed; Grid 2

shows the bed located further down the hill.

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Grid 1 Grid 2

In addition to planting in the raised beds, we transplanted kale, broccoli and

cauliflower seedlings directly into the ground in the open space around the beds.

Before we planted, this space was tilled by executive director Jose Cornejo. A single

row of strawberry seedlings was planted on the east side of Grid 1. Hank and Kevin

also built a trellis from branches and sticks; one tomato plant and three cucumber

were planted beneath it and should grow to eventually wrap around it.

Lastly, we planted marigolds on two sides of Grid 1. Marigolds are thought to repel

harmful insects, which is very important in a garden that will use very minimal, if

any, pesticides (Wang). Image 8 shows the marigolds being transplanted in close

proximity to the bed, which should optimize its repelling qualities.

There is still a large empty space between the raised beds that has rocky, well-

drained soil on a sloped incline. This is probably not ideal for our kitchen garden, but

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this type of soil is perfect for milkweed. Our plan is to drop some common milkweed

seeds in the ground in hopes of attracting monarch butterflies and other pollinators to

the area. Milkweed could also be efficient in deterring pests--a little taste of the

milky sap inside the plant can poison unknowing intruders.

Sustainable Features

● Rain barrels -- In order to minimize the impact on the Wildwood water bill, we

will augment Wildwood’s rain barrel supply threefold (from one to three).

These will enable rainwater to be collected and applied to plants

● Compost -- We utilized the Wildwood compost bin in our planting (though we

had to get more from Orscheln’s), and are actively encouraging composting for

the year

● Natural pest prevention -- We planted marigolds to keep out unwanted pests

and plan on applying coyote urine to the boundaries to discourage small

mammals

Soil Composition

Mel Bartholomew suggests the following three ingredients when creating a raised box

garden (Bartholomew).

¼ Peat Moss

¼ Compost

½ Soil

These three materials will allow our vegetable garden to have proper nutrients, water

retention, and texture to burrow roots. Overall we used 3 bags of compost, ¼ of a

8sq3 bag of peat moss, and the local soil from Wildwood. We bought compost and peat

moss from Orscheln’s. One and a half bags of compost and 2sq 3 of peat moss are

needed for each box. Digging into the ground allowed us to use the soil at Wildwood.

This method will allow additional support for vegetable root systems like the deep

roots of tomatoes. Tomato roots can reach depths of 24” (eartheasy.com). We

planted 7 tomato plants so it was crucial to take root depth into consideration.

Soil pH Testing

We conducted a pH test on the soil to determine if we need to add supplements for

alkaline or acidic soil (frugalliving.com).

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To test for alkaline soil we took 1 cup of soil mixed one cup of water and half a cup of

vinegar in a cup. If the mixture bubbles then the soil is alkaline. To remedy alkaline

soil sulfate can be added to the soil or natural compost will lower the pH over time

(sunset.com).

To test for acidity we took 1 cup of soil mixed with one cup of water and half a cup of

baking soda, as shown in Image 9. If the mixture bubbles then the soil is acidic. To

remedy acidic soil lime can be added to increase the pH of soil (sunset.com).

Fortunately, our results revealed the soil to be of an ideal pH.

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Planting List and Education

Provided below is a list of what has been planted at Wildwood, as well as how to

continue to care for these plants.

Basil

· Site- sunny spot

· Soil- well-drained with lots of organic matter. Keep soil pH around 6.0

· Planting and growing- sow seeds indoors six weeks before the last expected frost.

Cover seeds with 1/8” deep with soil. Keep the soil evenly moist and exposed to

plenty of light. Plant the seedlings outdoors after the danger of frost is past.

· Harvesting- Regular harvesting encourages busy growth

Beans

· Site- At least half day of sun

· Soil- Prefers a light sandy soil with good drainage; pH of 5.5-6.8

· Planting and growing- Plant 1-2 weeks after the last expected frost. Keep soil

constantly moist, but not soggy.

· Harvesting-Pick snap beans when they are tender and about as thick as a pencil.

They should snap when you break one in half.

Broccoli

· Site- Full sun

· Soil- Fertile, humus-rich soil with a pH of 6.0-6.8.

· Planting and growing- Seedlings are vulnerable to temperatures over 80ºF and

drying out. A regular supply of moisture will produce good heads. Excess moisture will

kill or stunt the growth.

· Harvesting-Harvest while heads are still compact, before buds start to open into

flowers. Cut the stem at a slant, 4-6” below the head.

Carrots

· Site- Full sun

· Soil- Deep, loose, moist and well aerated with a pH of 5.5-6.8

· Planting and growing-Place seeds directly into the ground. When the tops are 2”

tall, thin carrots to 1” apart. In two weeks thin again to 3-4” apart

· Harvesting-pull when they are large enough to use. Watering before harvesting

makes the chore easier.

Cauliflower

· Site- full sun

· Soil- rich in organic matter and nutrients with a pH of 6.0-6.8

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· Planting and growing- Requires a steady supply of moisture. Feed with a kelp and

fish emulsion mixture ( 1TBS of each per gallon of water) at transplantation and once

a week for three weeks.

· Harvesting- Pick when the heads are full, but before the curds begin to separate

Corn

· Site- Full sun

· Soil-Rich, well drained loam with a pH of 5.5-6.8 Spacing- 7-15” apart

· Planting and growing- soil should be evenly moist, but not wet.

· Harvesting-best when picked in the late afternoon. Ready for harvest 65-90 days

after planting. Look for brown, damp silks, and pick the ears when the kernels are

plump and tender and when milky liquid spurts out when you poke them.

Cucumber

· Site- Full sun

· Soil- well-drained sand or clay loam with a pH of 6.0-6.8

· Planting and growing-plenty of water. It is normal for the leaves to wilt during a

hot day, but recover during the night. Prolonged wilting indicates water stress or

disease problems.

· Harvesting- pick often so that the plants remain productive

Kale

· Site-full sun

· Soil- light, humus rich soil with a pH of 5.5-6.8

· Planting and growing-set plants out or direct sow in early spring or midsummer.

· Harvesting- Begin picking kales leaves when they are 8-12”, starting at the

bottom of the plant.

Melons

· Site-Full Sun

· Soil- Moderately rich, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0-6.8

· Planting and growing-Need very warm soil, no cooler than 60ºF. Melons need 1”

of water per week while they are young, but flavor often improves if the plants

become gradually drier as the fruit ripens. Never allow melons to dry out completely.

· Harvesting- watermelons stem dries to brown when they are ripe, with a yellow

or cream colored underside. Cantaloupes develop a thick netting over the rind and

the rind beneath becomes a lighter shade of green or yellow when they are fully ripe.

Okra

· Site-full sun

· Soil- Any

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· Planting and growing- heat and drought tolerant.

· Harvesting- cut 3-4” pods with their stems attached. Any pods longer will be

tough.

Onion

· Site- At least half day of sun

· Soil- Richly organic, well-drained loam with a pH of 6.0-6.5

· Planting and growing- consistently moist, but not wet.

· Harvesting-begin as soon as they are able to be used as green onions. Bulbing

onions are fully mature when the tops are yellow and start to fall over.

Oregano

· Site- full sun

· Soil- plant in well drained soil that has a neutral to slightly acidic pH.

· Planting and Growing- Thrives in dry, rocky gardens.

· Harvesting- harvest as needed.

Parsley

· Site- Full sun to partial shade

· Soil-humus rich, moist, well drained soil with a pH around 6.0

· Planting and growing- Keep soil evenly moist.

· Harvesting- Using scissors harvest the outer stems first and harvest regularly.

Peas

· Site- Full sun

· Soil- Well drained soil with high organic matter, pH of 5.5-6.8

· Planting and growing- Spring/Fall crop. Temperatures should be between 60-

65ºF. Keep soil moist, but do not over water.

· Harvesting-Harvest plump pods that are just beginning to look bumpy. If the pods

are discolored or shriveled the peas are past their prime.

Pepper

· Site-Full sun

· Soil-Sandy loam, or any good well drained soil with a pH of 5.5 -6.9

· Planting and growing-moderate even moister around roots, but tolerate droughts

better than tomatoes.

· Harvesting- most can be eaten when they are green and underripe.

Rosemary

· Site- Full sun to light shade

· Soil- Excellent drainage, light soil with a near neutral pH

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· Planting and Growing-Soil surface should dry out between waterings.

· Harvesting- Harvest throughout the season

Spinach

· Site-Sun to partial shade

· Soil-Heavy, fertile loam that is moist, but not soggy. pH between 6.0-7.0

· Planting and growing-Constant moisture promotes rapid growth and prevents

bolting. Keep the soil evenly moist, but not wet.

· Harvesting- Harvest when the leaves are large enough to use. Begin with the

outer leaves.

Strawberries

· Site- Full sun

· Soil- rich well drained soil that is high in organic matter

· Planting and growing-constantly wet soil, especially at planting and from

flowering until fruits just start to color.

· Harvesting-Expect about a quart of berries per plant. Pick when the fruits are red

and separate readily from the stem.

Tomato

· Site- Full sun

· Soil- Moderately fertile clay or sandy loam with good drainage and a pH between

5.5- 6.8

· Planting and growing-need warm constantly moist soil while they are young. Fail

to produce when temperatures are below 50ºF or above 90ºF.

· Harvesting- Fruits are ripe when they change color. For best flavor leave the

fruits on the plants for as long as possible. Do not store in the refrigerator, the cool

temperature causes them to lose flavor and texture (Nick).

Conclusion

Difficulties

Due to time constraints and geographic differences, establishing a garden at

Wildwood was no easy task for busy University students. Finding times to coordinate

garden visits was one of the most crucial parts in the process, and also one of the

most difficult. Its location, nearly eighty miles away from us, made it impossible to

simply drop in and check on it; we had to schedule our outings weeks in advance.

Funding issues are described in detail in the Budget section. Time was not on our side

when it came to obtaining grant money. For the most part, however, we were

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fortunate enough to be able to pull together different outside resources and minimize

the costs of this project, but not without spending a considerable amount of time in

pursuit of supplies and funding.

While we were each able to contribute in different ways,

we were far from experts on many aspects of this project.

The image to the left shows how mistakes can easily be

made, but can be avoided with teamwork.

Future plans

In order to make the most of our garden, it should be

smoothly implemented into Wildwood’s programming.

Campers can enjoy scavenger hunts, which are a natural fit

for gardens and will change day to day. Common things to

hunt for could range from ripe fruits to caterpillars and

pests. This will present garden work as a fun thing to

pursue much akin to play.

Another idea is building a bean teepee with our extra pole beans seeds. With a

simple structure consisting of poles tied together at the top in a teepee shape, the

beans will grow into the shape of a teepee within 6-8 weeks (Home Grown Fun). If

Wildwood campers construct the bean teepee during the summer it will be around for

all the fall students to enjoy.

Fun and games aside, there will be ample opportunities to learn. Part of Wildwood’s

job will be facilitating classes that communicate gardening knowledge and skill. Since

most campers only stay for one week, they may not get to see all the stages of

gardening. One lesson plan created to address this issue is growing carrots in

staggered bunches -- that is, to have carrots growing in different stages, so that

campers can plant seeds, thin seedlings, water veggies and harvest carrots all in the

same week, helping to compact a multitude of garden knowledge into a short period

of time.

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Reflections

Kevin: I thought this was an awesome way to merge my interest in sustainable food,

my education at KU and a place/ organization I really care about. This was a great

opportunity to combine three things I care about and finish my education taking on a

project that can do some real tangible good.

Victoria: I never thought that I would ever be back to Wildwood as an adult. Working

with the Camp brought back wonderful memories of my short stay there with my sixth

grade class. I chose to take on this project not only because growing food in a

sustainable way interests me, but because the results and impacts were obtainable in

the short spring semester.

Emma: I chose to be a part of this group because I wanted to physically make a

project happen. This project has inspired me to take a pathway out of college in

agricultural sustainability. I even started my own square foot garden at home. I

believe what we did at Wildwood will grow into a fundamental part of this summer

camp.

Julia: During my last semester as an Environmental Studies student, I wanted to spend

my time doing a project where I could get my hands dirty rather than fighting to

change things on campus. Wildwood welcomed the garden idea with open arms, and I

took it as an opportunity to learn skills and concepts that I may not have learned in

school otherwise. Now I can say that I have basic knowledge to begin my own garden

with relative ease.

Over the course of the semester we have received donations from various companies

and people, enabling us to implement Wildwoods new garden. Although we had some

difficulties throughout the process, the garden has been planted and will begin to be

used by Wildwood this summer. Our group will continue to be in contact with

Wildwood to ensure the progress of our project. We hope to see other camps, schools,

and personal gardens begin to implement our ideas in the future.

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2014. <http://squarefootgardening.org/humanitarian-projects>.

Blair, Dorothy. "Humanitarian Projects." Square Foot Gardening. Mel

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