PVCC community garden awaits new irrigation system

This year’s vegetable crop from the community garden may be its best yet with the collaboration of the Horticulture Club and some of this semester’s SciTE, the college’s science, engineering and technology scholarship, recipients.

Besides majoring in science, engineering or computer science, the SciTE applicants must possess a 3.5 GPA in his or her major, write an essay, interview for a panel and they must agree to contribute their talents to the college.

This semester, the contribution is a self-sustaining irrigation system to water the community garden which is maintained by the Horticulture Club.

According to Michael VanArsdale, a SciTE recipient and co-designer of the irrigation project, the system is an independent, gravity-fed system.

Discussion is also steering the project towards using solar panels to transmit power to pump batteries making the system entirely “green.”

The group intends on breaking ground in April.They welcome extra hands, especially those with construction background, and those who can lend hand tools, drills and saws.

The community garden resides just outside Dickinson Building where, thus far, watering has been done by hand. The new irrigation system will save much time that can be used to tend plants and weeds.

Watering schedules will yield a larger, healthier crop, much to the delight of the local food bank, the recipient of the garden’s yield each year.

For Sara Elizabeth, president of the Horticulture Club, the garden is a labor of love, “Gardening, half of it’s meditation” she says. Eager to share her fondness for the garden and its ultimate goal of charity within the local area, Elizabeth and the Horticulture Club encourage participation from any students.

With a completed irrigation system to be ready for the summer crop, the workload increases as well and any help is welcomed.

Horticulture club advisor David Lerman said, “I’m often thinking about the garden.” Calling the garden a “living laboratory,” he hopes students and staff alike will take part in the garden as a learning tool.

For additional information about the garden, volunteering or information on donating tools and gardening supplies, visit pvcchorticulture.wordpress.com.

RITA OSWALD
FORUM STAFF WRITER