And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east; and there he put the man whom he had formed.
- Genesis 2:8
Starting a garden on campus is a wonderful pursuit. Gardens bring food closer to home and eliminate transportation energy expenditure. They educate students about how to grow food and why it is important. They provide direct control over what chemicals are used on the produce. Most importantly, in bringing us closer to the beauty of creation, they bring us closer to our remarkable Creator.
Gardens serve as a reminder of God’s provision, his bountiful creation and our place in it. As Genesis 2 points out, God places us in the garden “to till it and keep it”—forever establishing us as the stewards of his creation. Yet many times, the imperceptible forces of our daily lives draw us away from this calling, this place we have in God’s creation. We drift away. We forget our role as stewards. A garden is a great way to bring us back, to re-center us, and reconnect us with the creation and our divine Creator. However, the task of starting a garden on campus can often seem daunting without the proper tools.
The Campus Garden Toolkit is here to help guide you.
Based on successful campus garden programs, this toolkit will help students begin or improve an existing campus garden. The download is absolutely free. May the growing begin.
