How Sun Devils can get involved in the Polytechnic community garden
The Polytechnic Community Garden.
The Garden Commons, or more casually known to students as the community garden, is ASU’s urban garden space located at the Polytechnic campus.
The purpose of the garden space is to give Sun Devils the opportunity to learn about food systems and the importance of sustainability.
This engaging space was moved to the Polytechnic campus in 2019 from a location off campus after members of the ASU community realized the garden would be more beneficial to students if it was on campus.
Currently the garden includes 18 raised beds for growing veggies, two pecan trees, six grape vines and 22 citrus trees. That's a lot of plants!
The space raises environmental awareness and connects students to the land. Students are able to get hands-on experience caring for plants and harvesting food. Luckily for Sun Devils interested in getting involved with the garden, there are tons of opportunities!
Here are four ways Sun devils can get involved in the Polytechnic Garden Commons.
1. Participate in garden events.
Did you know that the community garden hosts regular events? Simply follow the garden commons on Instagram @asugardencommons to stay up to date with upcoming events. Past events have included Adopt a Plant Day, volunteer opportunities, sustainable button making, pumpkin painting and more.
Sun Devils looking to connect with nature can spend time in the garden sitting at tables or just looking around. Whether you’re looking for a peaceful spot to work on homework or just a place to stretch your legs, the community garden has it all. Currently an outdoor pavilion is being built for students to enjoy as well.
“We want it to be an area where students can engage with each other and be educated but also have a wonderful comfortable outdoor space to do homework, relax, sort of things like that,” said Susan Norton, Garden Commons program manager.
Did you know you can actually have class in the garden space? That’s right! Professors can book the space for classes. Ask your professor to mix it up and book a class outside.
Different courses are occasionally offered in the garden as well. According to Norton, Practical Plants for Sustainable Living is one course offered in the space.
A class doesn’t have to be about plants or sustainability to utilize the garden space. Recently, architecture students were working in the space to design an outdoor pavilion.
“We have architecture students who were out here every day onsite kind of learning about the process of building, and it's really going to be just an amazing addition,” Norton said.
4. Engage in volunteer opportunities.
Sun Devils can also get involved with the community garden by volunteering. The Garden Commons ambassador program allows students to volunteer at the garden. The program lasts for up to 16 weeks and gives students the chance to learn and gain gardening experience.
Student organizations can also volunteer in the garden. Working in the garden gives student groups the chance to bond while getting hands-on experience with nature.
Changemaker Central @ ASU’s days of service are also popular days where Sun Devils can volunteer.
In addition to those volunteer opportunities, the garden also has student workers who staff the site and tend to its plants.
“Being able to have this student worker position has taught me a lot more about how to start seeds, how to fertilize the beds and stuff so it's definitely helped my understanding of what to do with my hobby,” said Paige Anglin, master’s student in global sustainability and aide for the Garden Commons said.
More information on the Garden Commons can be found on its website and Instagram or by emailing USP@asu.edu.