SIFE garden a work in progress
by Maria Helgeson, Features Editor

Last week Henry Hundt (‘13) and Lauren Seemann (‘13), the leaders of the student-run SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise) garden, met with the Cornell alumni who sponsored the garden last year to discuss their summer plans.

If they receive funding again this year, Henry and Lauren will be able to stay in Mount Vernon this summer, planting seeds and preparing the garden for the coming year. If they don’t, planting may have to be postponed.

Last summer, the garden was unsuccessful because one of the head gardeners was unable to work for most of the summer. Gardeners also faced problems with the location of the garden. Black walnut trees surrounded the original plot of land, and the acidity of the trees was harmful to the plants in the garden.

This year, Lauren and Henry have been working hard to revive the garden project, which many deemed a failure after its unsuccessful summer. They have written a “Statement of Mission and Purpose” detailing their plans for this summer as well as their long-term goals for the garden.

They recently presented their plans to John and Marty McGrane, the Cornell alumni whose donations helped support the garden last year. They have also worked with SIFE and with biology professor Andy McCollum.

Although a location has not been approved for the garden yet, Henry and Lauren hope begin planting on the land on the east and northeast sides of McWethy Hall. The vegetables they plan to grow include onions, beans, broccoli, cabbage, beets, carrots, tomatoes, celery, sweet corn, cucumbers, lettuce, peppers, potatoes, spinach and eggplant. They also want to grow herbs like basil, cilantro, chives, funnel, oregano, rosemary and sage.

One of their goals is for the garden to become “a substantial source of food” for Cornell students and the Mount Vernon community. They hope that vegetables from the garden can be sold at the Farmer’s Market as well as to local restaurants.

If the garden is consistently successful, it could also provide fresh produce to supplement the food at Sodexo. Additionally, students may eventually be able to plant, grow and harvest their own food on individual plots.

Another of the goals listed in the mission statement is to strengthen the connection between Cornell and the Mount Vernon community. Lauren and Henry hope to obtain food waste from community businesses and restaurants and from Sodexo to use as compost.

A compost pile would provide a sustainable source of fertilizer for the garden, and might even generate income if the fertilizer could be sold.

Their statement mentions that the gardeners would be sure to use “urban farming techniques” to keep the odor of an on-campus compost pile under control.

Although the garden may eventually begin to pay for itself once it becomes established, it will require an initial investment. Lauren and Henry are currently working on a detailed budget for the next year.

Basic materials like a garden fork, hoe, shovel and wheelbarrow are needed, as well as seeds, mulch and fertilizer. A tiller may also need to be purchased if the garden expands.

The Environmental Club has agreed to pay for some of the tools needed. The gardeners also hope to receive some funding from Student Senate.

Much of the focus of the SIFE garden team is on raising environmental awareness on campus and in the Mount Vernon community. They hope that working on and eating food from a local organic garden will raise awareness of where food comes from and inspire students and community members to make good choices about what they eat.

“We will...begin a tradition of sustainable stewardship and proper garden growth,” says the mission statement. “We hope to promote environmental and food awareness and demonstrate the value of sustainable living.”

Among the other advantages of the garden are that it could be used as a teaching tool for classes and that it would have aesthetic value for Cornell’s campus.

The gardeners believe that student interest in the garden will be high. “I’ve had quite a few people ask me about it and express a willingness to help,” said Lauren.

In the near future, it is likely that the success of the garden will depend on whether the McGranes are willing to fund the project for another year. “Until we have their commitment to the project,” said Lauren, “we don’t know for sure whether we will able to make this work or not.”