First harvest for University’s student garden

Tomatoes, eggplants, cabbages, and lettuces are just a few of the vegetables currently showing off in Southern Cross University’s flourishing new ‘Food for Thought’ student garden at the Lismore campus.

The garden has been established by the student environmental collective, with support from University management, and is producing so well that a morning tea ‘veggie snack’ will take place next Monday, June 21, to showcase the garden.

Everyone is invited to attend to see just how productive a small no-dig garden can be. You will find the garden located near the front entrance to the University, at the head of the small lake which sits alongside the sports oval.

Geoff Reid, a Bachelor of Arts student and the driving force behind the garden, said the aim was to inspire people to get involved in the new garden – whether they were students or staff.

“We hope to expand the project later this year and make it open to the public as well,” Geoff said.

Apart from the rows of plantings, the garden boasts a small aquaponics system, which is still being trialled. It will be stocked with local freshwater yabbies and their waste will feed a range of plants.

“We think we have made a fairly good start, although to get running from a standstill we have had to take shortcuts such as using bought nitrogen mulch instead of growing our own fertiliser,” Geoff said.

“For the moment we are functional regarding most tools, and University management has been really helpful to us, erecting a shed for us and providing some of the fencing.

“We are trying to raise public awareness about sustainability and want to show people how easy it is to grow your own food.

“We want to share our knowledge about simple no-dig gardening methods and how to grow using minimum pesticides.”

Carolyn Lozar, a Bachelor of Trauma and Healing student, has also been involved with the garden since its inception several months ago.

“I love working in the garden because I find that by getting in tune with the environment you can retune yourself,” Carolyn said.

“Gardening is very healing and once you have healed yourself, you are in a better position to help others heal.

“I also wanted to learn how to live more sustainably and learning how to grow food is an important skill – and it is important to pass this knowledge on to one’s children.”

Jesabe Warner, a Bachelor of Naturopathy student, who is also one of the keen student gardeners involved in the project, said what she enjoyed the most was coming down to the garden at lunchtime and adding fresh greens to her lunchtime meal.

“It is very satisfying knowing that you have grown the food you are eating, as well as being wonderfully nutritious and packed full of vitamins and minerals,” she said. “You can’t buy food like this in the supermarket.”

Media opportunity: members of the media and the general public are invited to the morning tea at the Food for Thought garden on Monday, June 21 from 11am – 11.30am, at the Lismore campus. Lismore City Council Mayor, Cr Jenny Dowell will be attending the morning tea as well as Mr Malcolm Marshall, Director of Corporate Services, who has strongly supported the establishment of the garden.

Photo: Southern Cross University students working in the new ‘Food for Thought’ garden, Carolyn Lozar, in foreground and Geoff Reid and Jesabe Warner.