12 Things You Need to Know About Holy Cross’ New Community Garden

The College’s community garden has taken root. Here’s all the dirt!

1. The idea first blossomed in a tutorial on philosophical issues related to food taught by Andrea Borghini, assistant professor of philosophy.

2. The grounds department, headed by Jim Long, prepared, fenced and tilled the site, and provided a water supply.

3. Seed money for tools and supplies came from the Environmental Studies program.

4. The topsoil for the garden, which was tilled last week, came partly from the new lacrosse field at Holy Cross.

5. All vegetables were planted directly from seed or grown from seed in greenhouses maintained by the biology department or grounds department.

6. The garden, located next to the Hart football practice fields, will grow tomatoes, corn, carrots, beets, lettuce, Swiss chard, sweet and hot peppers, eggplant, red and green cabbage, broccoli, onions, leeks, cucumbers, zucchini, winter squash, Brussels sprouts, radicchio, radishes and cantaloupe, as well as half a dozen herbs, including basil and two varieties of parsley.

7. Planting is being timed to produce a harvest from late August through late October.

8. Monika Mangsen ’10, a religious studies major with an Environmental Studies concentration in the Teacher Education Program, and Selina Carter ’11, a political science major in the College Honors Program, will tend the garden this summer as part of a work-study program in conjunction with Worcester’s Regional Environmental Council.

9. Chemical pesticides will not be used and inorganic fertilizers will be kept to a minimum.

10. The food grown in the garden will be used in several ways on campus, possibly including Slow Food dinners in the dining hall, sale at the campus farmers market and for occasional meals at Campion House.

11. Food will also be donated to shelters in Worcester, such as Abby’s House. Holy Cross students have been actively involved in the nonprofit organization that assists battered women and children since its founding in 1976.

12. The garden is part of a network of about 40 community gardens in the Worcester area.

Related Information:

• Read more about the community garden in a story published in the Telegram & Gazette. • Read a story and watch a video about Holy Cross’ Slow Food program in the Boston Globe. • Environmental Studies • Sustainability at Holy Cross