Emma Pettay

Enabling a New Gardening Initiative to Flourish

A Project by Emma Pettay

The project I chose to complete with this grant funding was in collaboration with the GRO initiative to grow sustainable produce in our community and come together in efforts to build knowledge and awareness of growing one’s own food. A guiding philosophy for this project was collaboration with existing community initiatives to further strengthen and build upon their established work being done. As the current president of a K-State student group called Students for Environmental Action, I chose to engage our group with this project and bring our students to the forefront of the design and growth process of the three garden beds we have located in the front lawn of ECM. In these garden beds we planted spinach, lettuce, carrots, cilantro, broccoli, and other vegetables. On planting day, we brought in our local research and extension officer, along with a knowledgeable permaculture expert, to share with us best planting practices, how often to water, and how to distinguish between plants and weeds. From this learning effort, we have been able to teach a group of 10 students how to garden and harvest edible produce.

​This funding has provided an opportunity to connect our students with local, knowledgeable community members who we are then able to continue collaboration with on this project and more in the future. Gardening is a great way to get outdoors safely in the era of COVID and has provided us with a continuing project that Students for Environmental Action and the GRO initiative can meet together to do as a team.