Editors: The next harvest will take place on Aug. 8 at 9 a.m. outside of the north entrance of Regent Hall. Photographers are welcome to attend.
Nestled among the stately buildings on campus, rows of vegetables that compose the CU-Boulder campus garden project have been weeded and watered throughout the summer by volunteers hoping for a bumper crop to benefit Boulder County residents in need.
The program, in its third year, has doubled in size each year. There are now four gardens located throughout the campus, said Wynn Martens, director of Community Relations for CU-Boulder.
The gardens, which can be found near the Recreation Center, the fountain area of the UMC east of the Chemistry building, and the north side of Regent Hall, are in the process of being harvested and all of the food will be donated to Community Food Share. It will then be distributed to more than 100 community groups.
The cost of running the program is minimal, according to Martens. Community Food Share donates the seeds and plants and campus volunteers provide the labor necessary to cultivate the gardens, she said.
For the approximately 30 volunteers, comprised of staff, faculty and students, the effort that goes into the gardens is well worth it. " It seemed like a neat thing to do," said Cheryl Koelling, a volunteer who is an administrative assistant in the public services office of the University of Colorado libraries. "One of the great things about working at the university is the chance to do community service."
"It is a very efficient way to make a significant impact in the community," Martens said.
The gardens not only enrich the beauty of the campus but also help Community Food Share meet the demands of those it serves. "Having produce that聮s just been picked fresh is valuable," said Dave Carlson, Community Food Share garden coordinator.
Some of the vegetables that are harvested go to Elder Share, a program run through Community Food Share, which distributes the produce to approximately 1,000 elderly people in the community. "It is so appreciated by these people. They聮re homebound and can聮t garden anymore," Carlson said. "We distribute other food, and time and again it is the fresh produce that is greatly appreciated."
The efforts of all the volunteers have not gone unnoticed either. "It takes consistent care, and the people have really done that," Carlson said. He hopes more students will decide to get involved in the future. "A garden can use a lot of assistance from students. The more people you have involved, the better."
Carlson would be happy to see the program continue to grow. "I think the four gardens are great, they supply a lot of produce," Carlson said. "It is something I would like to see expanding."