The culture of horticulture

By Patrick Flajole

Whether it's personal satisfaction, agricultural autonomy or just getting outside in the sun, the practice of cultivating the earth has again become a trend.

Many gardeners will tell you that the process is often just as enjoyable as the product.

Patty Guzman, who cultivated a blossoming garden in her own backyard with the help of alumnus Andrew Conner and other friends, explained, "Even though everything isn't as big as you might see at a store, it's something you planted. You're eating something you grew from start to finish."

Produce travels great distances to reach supermarkets and Benson food stations, but soon, students and faculty will be able to take part in designing and eventually growing their own fruits and vegetables just off campus.

On Tuesday, professor Patrick Archie of the Environmental Studies Institute held a meeting for the planning and designing of the community garden at Santa Clara. Archie stressed that the garden is a collaborative project in the creation, maintenance and benefits.

"Rather than have some landscape architect design the whole thing, we should have a number of conversations over the fall and winter and come up with a plan that works for everyone," he said.

The site is located just across the street from Mondo Burrito on the north side of campus.

As the site now contains piles of dirt and waste from the construction of Lucas Hall, it is not yet much to look at.

Archie and many others involved have high hopes, however, for what the half-acre garden will bring.

Gardens offer a fun way for people to come back to or become acquainted with the land and return to our original American roots.

"We have culturally distanced ourselves from our environment on a number of levels, and certainly where our food comes from," said Archie. "Like anything, we're essentially alienated from that which keeps us alive and food is probably one of the most interesting examples."

The fact is, gardens take a while before they show any results. The idea of a community garden can seem out of place on a university campus in the middle of suburban Santa Clara. Steps along the way are tedious, and although many crops vary, all gardens need constant care lest lot of hard work be lost.

Archie also intends for the project to create an educational opportunity. The garden will have various different uses -- all expected to yield crops of produce for those involved.

Both students and faculty members have been actively involved in planning the ideal community garden that serves scientific as well as social purposes.

The plans will be taken into consideration and presented to professional landscapers, who are scheduled to break ground in the spring.

Undoubtedly, the student garden will be a trial and error process, which may not become truly prosperous for a number of seasons.

"That's the thing," said Guzman. "Even if one thing doesn't succeed, if something else does, you learn from that incident and you'll learn for next year. It's like a communal knowledge with others around the world that you can share."

Gardens don't necessarily require a lot of space, either. A small plot can go a long way. Even though the community garden is anticipated to get started in the spring, personal gardening has made a resurgence, and it's not too late for fall crops.

Brussels sprouts, cabbages, cauliflower, beets, parsnips, radishes, broccoli, leaf lettuce and spinach are all vegetables that thrive in the winter climate in Santa Clara.

A quick trip to a local nursery or Home Depot can get you started on any scale depending on the amount of space you have and your dedication to the project.

Contact Patrick Flajole at (408) 551-1918 or pflajole@scu.edu.