UHD Sustainability Garden and Compost Center

 

The Sustainability Garden

The UHD Sustainability Garden was initiated in the fall of 2015 with support from the Center for Urban Agriculture and Sustainability, the College of Sciences and Technology and Facilities. The UHD Garden Club maintains both the UHD Sustainability Garden and helps oversee the STB Garden Beds through student volunteers. Both gardens are open for educational and research activities. Volunteers across academic programs and student organizations can participate in the garden work that occurs at the best time for all involved.

Although not certified organic, the Sustainability Garden produces seasonal vegetables without the use of pesticides, herbicides, and artificial fertilizers. The aquaponics system is powered by solar energy. All biodegradable garden waste is recycled into compost. The composting center, started in 2016 and managed by students, also collects green waste from the cafeteria and brown waste (cardboard) from the facilities. Additionally, the Sustainability Garden provides space for a newly established student-built aquaponics system (growing fish and plants together). The aquaponics system will also be powered by solar energy. Plants can also be grown in the garden for research projects and in support of the new UHD Pocket Prairie.

The UHD Sustainability Garden not only supports education and research projects, but it also serves as a getaway in our otherwise urban environment, where students get a chance to connect with their food sources through hands-on experiences. In the past few seasons, the garden has produced plenty of tomatoes, onions, peppers, basil, dill, eggplants, okra, and beans shared by members and volunteers. In the future, our goal is to produce enough food that it can support the UHD food pantry.

The Sciences and Technology Building

The STB Garden consists of 7 15X3 raised beds. The garden opened in January 2020. These beds are used to grow produce that the UHD community gets to enjoy. Research and educational activities are encouraged. This garden is not certified organic, but no chemicals are used in growing the produce. We occasionally use organic, natural chemicals such as neem oil but nothing that is not natural.