As spring begins, students, professors, and members of the Morgan State University community grab their rakes, trash bags, and gloves to start gardening.
Sponsored by the Nutritional Sciences Program, a part of the School of Community Health and Policy, the Community Organic Vegetable Garden (Coveg) is located on Hillen Road, across the street from the School of Global Journalism and Communication.
Although this is the fourth year of the garden’s operation, this is only the second year with the adopt-a-bed initiative where organizations “take ownership” of one of the 10 garden beds. Every organization gets a garden bed; they keep half of the harvest whilte the other half is donated to a cause of their choosing.
“Our key mission is really to increase overall health, wellness, and fitness. We really want to see individuals increase their vegetable consumption,” said Dr. Sherine Brown, faculty director and faculty advisor of the organization. “Gardening has been very therapeutic for some students. When students came out here, they were relaxed. It created a level of camaraderie.”
Students from other majors also participated. Alex Harrington, a student in the school of Education and Urban Studies, manages public relations for the group.
Harrington said, “I minor in Nutritional Studies. I thought it would be a great opportunity to learn about gardening and helping out my community because I’m from this area. This has been my first time gardening and it has been great so far and great for the organization. I wish everyone on campus would come out. We’re gonna have a lot of fun.”
Ashley Spence, a Nutritional Science major said, “There’s something about starting from nothing and seeing what you put in the ground grow and develop over time. I think there’s no greater experience that; when you put in the work and you see how something literally starts from nothing and just grows and appears out of the ground. It’s life right in front of your eyes.”
The group meets on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5-6 p.m. Planting day is next Monday, April 7, 2014.
