Four years ago SFCC built the on-campus community garden. For a short time it was kept up, but COVID-19 propelled the growing disinterest in the project.
As weeds grew and the grass died it became an eyesore on the back side of the campus. The Spanish and Environmental clubs have the means to change this.
On April 30, these clubs have created a Campus Clean Up day. This year the SFCC campus plans to help the environment in true Arbor Day fashion.
The day will be looked after by the Advisors to each of the sponsoring clubs. Monica Stenzel from the history department for the Environmental club, and Conrado Zepeda-Pallares for the Spanish club.
From 10 to 12pm the Spanish and Environmental clubs will be meeting at the Bigfoot community garden near the P19 parking lot and building 16, on the west part of campus.
Not only will these groups, and anyone who joins, be cleaning up the garden, but there will be many additional activities to partake in.
“Free trivia games, crafts, and prizes will be available to everyone who comes, though the first 50 participants will receive a free Ben & Jerry’s scoop,” Stenzel said. “Additional ice cream will be for sale to anyone who would like some.”
At this time, the only food truck that will be in attendance is Ben & Jerry’s, but advisors are waiting to hear about others. The goal for the day is a simple one, but it needs the help of those willing to show up and do the work.
“We want to emphasize that there are garbage containers on our campus, and that unfortunately many times they are not used properly,” Zapeda-Pallares said. “We also want to draw your attention that, even though we will not go beyond campus, there is an alarming amount of garbage around campus. Just walk over the T.J. Meenach to find out. Our main objective is to celebrate Earth Day with these activities.”
The goal is to educate and to start the clean up. The community garden needs a jump start to get it going.
“We hope to create a community around the idea of care for our environment, and bring home that concept of ‘thinking globally, acting locally,’” Zapeda-Pallares said. “Ecological responsibilities are not just for biologists or geologists, but everyone who breathes the air, drinks the water, and lives on land. Each person has a part to play, whether they work in health care, technology, academics, military, or retail settings.”
While the Environmental Club is fairly new, they plan to help the future campus community have a better and more useful garden.
“The Environmental Club invites any member of the SFCC community to don a mask and join us on Thursdays at 11 am to plant and maintain the garden,” Stenzel said. “It’s a wonderful form of stress relief, right here on campus. We hope to plant a ‘salsa garden’, that is, peppers, tomatoes, garlic, and cilantro; as well as flowers for a cutting garden. These are fairly easy and fun to grow, as well as being a real mood booster for our students.”
“As one of the first COVID-safe, outside activities, we’d love to see more students meet up and join the Spanish and Environmental Clubs,” Stenzel said.
April 30 is predicted to be sunny and in the mid 60s, so don’t forget your hat and a mask. All are welcome; Monica Stenzel and Conrado Zapeda-Pallares hope to see you there.