A new community garden on campus promises a better sense of community, hope, and the ability to feed faculty and students alike.

The new SFCC community garden is meant to serve as a learning experience for those wishing to cultivate their own food. It also gives students the chance to learn about sustainability in terms of agricultural growth, supply, and demand. The garden will include various fruits and vegetables and will be located behind the new gym. Plans began last summer and there is no current date for completion. A proposal for the budget is yet to be finalized but cost would be included in the tuition fees.

Activities Vice President, Ben Alexander has high hopes for the garden and its potential for the community.

“I believe that through cultivation of the food comes environmental awareness, food awareness,” he said. “It gives an opportunity to those who feel like there isn’t a place for them on campus to find a sense of belonging.”

Before the garden can be completed, ensuring that it is maintained is a top priority. Student Government is optimistic that forming a club with similar agricultural interests will allow the garden to be mostly student driven.

There are several students and faculty members already behind the formation of this club, but there is not yet enough students that have shown interest. In addition to a new club formation, the community garden could potentially serve as a service opportunity to the current clubs and students.

“A lot of students may not have the availability to have their own land, so this is another opportunity for them to have some space to grow,” said Nathan Evans, outreach programmer.

The groundbreaking for the community garden will take place May 17, from 11:30 a.m to 1 p.m. The event will include food, feature the band Trapdoor Social, complete with a solar panel stage, as well as planting starters and seeds, starters donated by Catholic Charities.

“It’s bringing social growth as well as economic stability versus outsourcing,” said Vernon Blecher, SFCC student. “You can buy packets of seeds for pennies to dollars compared to what we pay for at the grocery store.”

Leadership positions for this club are going to become available soon. Student Government asks that if you are interested in joining the club, please let them know. You can also email Ben at actvp@sfcc.spokane.edu.