Western's Newest Garden Provides Aesthetic and Sustainable Value

• Vivian Cheng
  • Sep 6, 2017

The campus vibrancy in September is unparalleled by any other month: the sun is shining and the gardens are blooming.

Not only do Western's gardens provide aesthetic value, they also spur research and sustainability initiatives.

Western has a greenhouse, several rooftop gardens and an Indigenous food and medicine garden. Along with those gardens, its newest addition is an outdoor food garden created by Enviro Western, a student service on campus.

Western University's Gardens

Photos Max Mao / GAZETTE

The garden opened at the end of August, outside of the Health Sciences Addition. 

Olivia Ly, a third year medical sciences and health sciences student, says that, although the garden is still in its planning phases, the group plans to distribute some of their produce to

the London community where it's needed.

The food could also be sold in the farmer's market on campus that runs every Tuesday on Concrete Beach. 

With the rise of the wellness trend in our culture, the garden's opening provides a unique opportunity for students to learn more about healthy eating as well as food sustainability.

Ly believes that the garden will prompt students to think about the source of their food. Because it's on campus, the garden will make learning about the environment accessible.

"Our goal is to teach people about environmental actions, especially how to plant a garden in their own homes," says Ly. More specifically, Ly says the group will teach students about gardening in pots and gardening in the winter during their greenhouse meetings at the end of September.

The food garden aims to grow more varieties of plants than the greenhouse already on campus, because it's not restrained by the unique conditions of it, such as temperature and humidity. Ly highlights that the garden offers more space.

Currently, kale and green onions grow in the garden plots, but as the months become colder, the vegetables will be replaced with garlic.

Ly expresses that gardening promotes a more authentic coexistence with the environment. "Instead of rules like recycling or bringing a reusable water bottle, you get to see what it's like to interact with the environment and obtain tangible products for your efforts," says Ly.