UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A year after the installation of the University Park Schreyer Pocket Garden — located in the courtyard facing McKean Road outside Simmons Hall — additional gardens, modeled after the initial proposal submitted by third-year undergraduate biological engineering student, Vancie Peacock, are now being developed on Penn State campuses across the commonwealth.
The Schreyer Pocket Garden, built in collaboration between the Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Student Farm and the Schreyer Honors College, hosts four 8-foot by 4-foot raised beds constructed from reclaimed White Oak lumber, which was donated by the Office of the Physical Plant. In their first growing season, the garden produced over 177 pounds of fresh produce including zucchini, kale, tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, basil, spinach, and carrots. As the garden seeks to address student food insecurity, a growing issue among college students, produce is donated to several outlets that fill this need including the Lion’s Pantry, White Course Weston Community Center, and pop-up “pay-what-you-can” farmer’s markets. The garden also amplifies the Schreyer Honor College’s goal of promoting health and wellness — which is in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2 and 3 (Zero Hunger and Good Health and Well-Being).
Run entirely by volunteer students, staff, and faculty, participants can be found getting their hands dirty building and filling raised beds, maintaining and harvesting plants, and hosting engagement events such as the “Stress-less & Yoga Workshop” and the “Schreyer Student Council Sustainability and Native Species Planting Workshop”. In addition to regular programming and engagement opportunities, open garden hours are offered each week. During this time, volunteers can join in on daily gardening tasks, learn about agriculture and food insecurity, and pitch new ideas to grow involvement at the garden.
“I believe students deserve affordable access to fruits and vegetables, and the option to nourish themselves with nutritious, fresh produce grown without chemicals,” said Vancie Peacock, founder of the Schreyer Pocket Garden and third year undergraduate Biological Engineering student. “While the Schreyer Pocket Garden can produce over 200 pounds of produce per season, this is not enough to feed every student. Because of this, my hope is that the garden provides short term relief for students, but mainly that it inspires and empowers students to make more gardens everywhere. Combined, that can change the way we view and interact with food at Penn State. It has been amazing to see this ripple effect begin! These gardens are physical reminders that food insecurity is not uncommon at Penn State and that one way many students show their loyalty to Penn State and their fellow students is by being critical of the institution and advocating for change.”
Now, Peacock’s impact is expanding to several Commonwealth Campuses as well.
“In mid-fall, the Penn State Berks Campus Garden Proposal was approved, allowing the Berks Sustainability Council to move forward with the installation of several raised beds during Spring Break of the 2022-23 academic year,” said Mahsa Kazempour, associate professor of science education and Berks Sustainability Council chair. “This initiative expands our impact beyond the existing greenhouse and will be accessible to all members of our campus community, addressing interdisciplinary topics, as well as issues of food waste and insecurity. Our goal is for the gardens to increase food equity by providing year-round access to healthy vegetables and herbs, enhance partnerships and collaborations, as well as to address issues related to sustainability and social and economic justice.”
Partnerships with and donations from the Office of the Physical Plant, the Student Farm Club, the Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Student Farm, the University Park Undergraduate Association, Lion’s Pantry, the Penn State Mushroom Research Center, Lowes, Home Depot, Schreyer Honors College, and the Sustainability Institute have all helped to make the Schreyer Pocket Garden project possible.
For additional information on the Schreyer Pocket Garden or any of the gardens and student farms located at Penn State Commonwealth Campuses, visit https://sites.psu.edu/onegarden/.