Community Garden

Background and Introduction

Since its founding over 100 years ago, Alfred State College has had a tradition of fostering and nurturing agriculture through local and regional partnerships. The Alfred State College Sustainability Institute (ASCSI), part of the SUNY College of Technology, honors that tradition by providing sustainable teaching tools to faculty, leadership examples in sustainability to students, and outreach programs that model sustainability for surrounding communities. By providing a community garden, composting facility, and greenhouse, the Institute supports local and relevant learning experiences for ASC students, faculty, and staff as well as children, youth, and adults within the region.

The importance of localization in the creation of gardens for sustainable, reliable, affordable, and healthy food production is well known in maintaining and rebuilding local economies. ASCSI started a community garden and composting facility during fall 2010 in order to support this human-scale development. As an outgrowth of the ASCSI Green Team, the Institute now serves as the central point of organization for the following:

A community garden with individual plots for participants where they can learn about sustainable methods and grow their own food.
A compost facility to reduce landfill and demonstrate the power of inexpensive methods for improving crop production.
A community greenhouse where gardeners can extend their growing season.

Join Our Community Garden

Student volunteers and members of the ASCSI Green Team [1] completed plot siting in November 2010 for spring planting in 2011. Subject to SUNY rules and policies, the community garden is open to members of the campus community, members of the local community who meet the criteria for participation, and not-for-profits who wish to learn about and grow produce in the space provided by the ASCSI. Garden plots are available on a first-come, first-served basis. This garden area is a place where people can join together to improve their lives. Community gardeners may choose to supply surplus produce to food banks or shelters coordinated through the Institute. The garden is certified organic by NOFA-NY.

What You Will Receive When You Join

Amenities for gardeners will include:

A 20x5 garden plot (multiple plots available)
Greenhouse access for extending the growing season
Organic seeds as available
Potting mix and compost
Tools and supplies
Instruction and mentoring
A growing, caring, nurturing environment for you and your garden!

Guidelines

Gardeners will be asked to sign an agreement upholding the rules of the garden, including:

Knowing and abiding by certified organic standards.
Items grown in the garden are for personal use.
Participating in garden-focused work days as necessary.

For more information on the Alfred Community Garden contact:

Sandy Dennison
Garden Recruitment Chair
Phone: (607) 587-4069
E-mail: dennissj@alfredstate.edu [2]

Compost Facility

The Center for Organic and Sustainable Agriculture (COSA) [3], Alfred State College Facilities Services, Auxiliary Campus Enterprises and Services, Inc. (ACES) [4], and Alfred University’s Dining Services have identified a compost site where raw materials from Alfred State College Facilities Management, ACES, and Alfred University are delivered. The compost site will be maintained by the ASCSI director, volunteers, and student work-study labor; compost will be used to support the community garden plots.

Community Greenhouse

Compatible with ASC’s curriculum for agriculture and crop production, the following uses have been identified for the greenhouse space:

A community greenhouse where participants can get an early start on growing for their community garden plot or their own home.
Student-led projects that will result in plants to be marketed as a renewable source of income for the Garden Club.
The production of plants for use on both campuses in support of the Campus Beautification Initiatives.