Ohio U’s Green Team promotes sustainability and food security

Photo via Audree Howell/The New Political

Last November, the Ohio University Student Senate developed initiatives for two vertical gardens. The project, which aims to enhance student engagement and sustainability at Ohio U, was awarded $5,000. 

The Senate worked to create a project that met engagement and sustainability goals but was also financially viable. Former Environmental Affairs Commissioner Caden Hibbs, worked with the company Just Vertical out of Canada, an indoor hydroponic farming company, and pitched their indoor wall gardens to support Ohio U. 

The indoor farm, which was more financially feasible, received extended support from Ohio U’s culinary services and Cats’ Cupboard. To maintain student development, the Senate partnered with Environmental and Plant Biology Professor, Dr. Kim Thompson, to develop a work-study program to keep students engaged and have an opportunity for hands-on learning experiences. 

The farm was installed at The District on West Green (Boyd) and Nelson Court on South Green and has created an opportunity to improve food security, especially for international students, and promote campus sustainability. Through this partnership, Ohio U is connecting students at an upfront level to combat food insecurity on campus and raise awareness about sustainability.

What is a Vertical Garden? 

Vertical Gardening is a process of agriculture where seeds are planted horizontally, allowing for more space to grow plants inside by using less land and avoiding extreme weather changes in order to grow all year round. 

According to Just Vertical, “hydroponics means ‘working with water.’ It is the method of growing plants both indoors and outdoors without soil, using mineral nutrient solutions in a water solvent.”

As climate issues rise, indoor gardens have become increasingly popular. Just Vertical’s mission and partnership with Ohio U abides by, “changing the indoor farming industry and creating products that will combat food insecurity and provide fresh food from the comfort of your own home.”

Addressing Food Insecurity: 

Students who have trouble getting fresh produce, especially those who are international or are reliant on Cats’ Cupboard, benefit from the gardens. The goal of this initiative is to make food sources more readily available, sustainable and consistent while simultaneously increasing student engagement on Ohio U's campus. 

Food security for students is being assisted by the gardens, especially throughout the summer. It offers a variety of options, particularly through Cats’ Cupboard, to both international students studying here or a select group of students who are living in the Athens region and experiencing food insecurity.

Because it can be challenging to find fresh, high-quality food in urban or areas with high food insecurity, these places are often referred to as food deserts. Urban farms give fresh food to those with low incomes who need it most, especially those without access to high-quality food or nearby grocery stores.

Anne Liston, Executive Chef for Ohio U Culinary Services, discusses her participation when she started growing the plants. “It was a project I was interested in [but] I don't do very well with growing things, so this was an added challenge.” 

Liston, as well as many other culinary workers and basic needs coordinators, are taking on a new way to get food to as many students as possible, even if it’s difficult. 

“Getting involved with Just Vertical and working with the seeds, planting them, seeing what works and what doesn’t.” 

The vertical garden is not only increasing student and staff engagement but also is raising awareness of food insecurity, giving more students access to fresh produce on campus. 

“[It’s about] helping the students,” Liston said. “I can’t stress enough how proud I am to be involved in something like [this]. I may get a plus off the side, but it’s not me, it’s for the students.”

Frank Pazzanese, Executive Director of Culinary Services, stated, “Partnering with Cats’ Cupboard food pantry was a natural choice given their outstanding contributions to the student body [and] the grow walls address [the] gap effectively.”

The Economics of Enhancing Sustainability on Campus:

The university lessens its dependency on conventional agriculture, which is impacted by climate change and erratic weather, by cultivating food in a regulated, hydroponic setting. Additionally, the gardens increase students' awareness of and interest in sustainability.

Hibbs mentions that there's an aspect of sustainability in growing food in a way that is not reliant on weather patterns. This is particularly beneficial for people experiencing food insecurity who reside in areas where weather patterns might not always change as expected. Hibbs believes Southeastern Ohio is a great place to fund sustainability projects like this one as it “has been an issue for a large amount of time where we don’t have funding for sustainability initiatives on campus.”

People may find it difficult to afford the financial commitment, but in 10 to 20 years, it might be an effective means to be sustainable while obtaining affordable produce. According to Hibbs, "I think there’s a real pathway for this to become something that can be used in a household and is a much better option than dealing with weather and the varying effects of climate change." 

Vertical farming and hydroponics systems allow for the growth of plants in small areas. It's an advanced and effective method of expanding in crowded cities or places where there isn't enough space for conventional farming, or on a university campus to assist students.

Student Engagement and Social Well-Being: 

Hibbs believes this initiative is up front and center in the dining halls to increase student engagement; In contrast to the green spaces on the rooftops of Schoonover and Jefferson Hall, those are not easily seen, nor easily accessible. “Students who may be interested in going into sustainability or environmental science may be much more impacted on specific tours and seeing [the plant walls] in the dining hall, it’s a very unique thing.” Through the work-study program, students can develop their future careers in sustainability by gaining real-world experience in agriculture and environmental science.

Liston, who had been lending support during the summer, could no longer manage the farm individually, so the team reached out to the plant biology department and Kim Thompson for assistance. The work-study program allows students to take care of the farm in both dining halls while remaining in contact with Cats’ Cupboard, making this a more permanent position that could be passed down semester after semester. Commenting on this, Hibbs says, “I think it’s working very well. It has a kind of chain of command. I think it’s a really great way for students to see sustainability right up front and within their everyday life.” 

Food fosters a sense of community. Liston feels it fosters connections and reduces homesickness. By providing fresh, homey food, the gardens provide a practical means of fostering community. 

Supporting students' nutritional and emotional well-being is especially present in the abundance of care put into this project. The partnership between Hibbs, Liston and Just Vertical, promotes community strength and hope for a prosperous future on campus. 

As Liston put it into terms, “We’re never going to be able to produce [enough] to feed every student in the dining halls, but we can produce enough off of there to help [students]. It’s a great partnership between the dining halls and the students that [utilize] Cats’ Cupboard. I love that. I think it’s super important.” 

While the vertical gardens may not fully supply Ohio U’s food needs, they symbolize a forward-thinking approach to sustainability. The vertical garden initiative is more than just a sustainability project; it is a proactive approach to addressing food insecurity, raising environmental awareness, and increasing student engagement. By incorporating hydroponic farming at the doors of campus dining halls, the university is making a long-term impact by providing fresh produce to students in need while also providing hands-on learning opportunities. 

Ohio U is demonstrating through collaboration and commitment that small steps toward sustainability can result in long-term benefits for both the environment and its students.