Planning for the Albertus Magnus College Community Garden began in June of 2017, with the expectation that the garden will be up and running in the Spring of 2018. The garden promises to be an important addition to the College, providing not only a beautiful aesthetic addition to the campus, but also helping the College strengthen its commitment to three of the four Dominican pillars – community, study and service. As a result, the garden will add a noteworthy dimension to the Albertus educational experience.
In its connection to study, the garden will serve as a resource for faculty members, providing them with a novel and exciting environment that will allow them to integrate a broad range of High Impact Practices (HIPs) and Experiential Learning activities into their courses. Research has demonstrated conclusively that the use of HIPs such as undergraduate research, service learning, and collaborative projects aids in student retention, helps students better learn course material, and increase student satisfaction in their educational experience. Additionally, Albertus Magnus College is committed to students engaging in Experiential Learning, commonly understood as “learning through experience AND reflecting ON their experience”. The garden will allow faculty to offer creative, diverse, and unique Experiential learning activities, which will provide students with a learning environment that is hands-on, immersive, and stretches the boundaries of the Albertus classroom in challenging and exciting ways.
With regard to service, the garden will allow Albertus Magnus to continue its strong tradition of working to promote social justice and care for creation. Albertus Magnus College is located next to the Newhallville section of New Haven, a neighborhood that is beset by high levels of unemployment, food insecurity, and has been classified as a ‘food desert’ – meaning that there is not easy and ready access to fresh food. Acknowledging the fact that our immediate neighbors are facing these barriers to health and wellness, all of the produce that comes from the garden will be part of an effort to engage with our local community to address these serious issues of poverty and food insecurity. Through the garden, we are hoping to partner with local food pantries, offer an at-cost farmers’ market, and create other avenues by which the garden can allow us to work as committed partners with other New Haven organizations to promote the health and well-bring of our neighbors. With respect to community, the garden will provide an opportunity for the entire Albertus Magnus community to interact with each other through the above described efforts, to relax in the meditation garden, and to realize their interests in the environment and social justice.
Currently, we have a plot set aside for the garden, Professor Jerry Nevins has drawn up designs for the space, and we are beginning to solicit both monetary and in-kind donations to support building raised beds, irrigation, deer fencing, tools, and so forth. We hope that you would be willing to join us as we embark on this promising and important venture here at the College. To help us with our fundraising goal, we have partnered with Seedmoney.org, a nonprofit organization that provides funding opportunities and grants to organizations that are working to create gardens like ours that are organized for social justice and promoting healthy communities. If we are able to raise $600 on our own, we will be eligible for a matching $400 grant from the organization; money that would go a long way toward the creation of our garden. However, the Seedmoney challenge only runs until December 15th, so time is of the essence. We would love your support in any way possible, and we will be sure to keep you updated on the progress of the garden and our various garden-related projects as they begin to ‘bear fruit’ in the spring and summer.
For further information or to volunteer, please contact Dr. Ross Edwards at redwards1@albertus.edu.