May 24, 2010 | Student Activities

Students Dig New Campus Garden

A sustainable vegetable garden takes root on the Norris south lawn

By Erin White

EVANSTON, Ill. --- Going green never tasted so good. Northwestern University students, faculty and staff soon will be sampling fresh fruit, herbs and vegetables from Wild Roots, a freshly planted and sustainable garden on the Norris south lawn.

Along with help from Northwestern's landscape architect Ann Ziegelmaier, students designed the organic garden last fall and planted it the second week of May.

The garden is a response to Thomas Friedman's "Hot, Flat, and Crowded." The book, this year's One Book One Northwestern selection, points to reasons why America needs to start a green revolution. Students hope their gardening efforts will raise awareness about sustainable gardening practices.

Facilities and a student will maintain the 90 ft. x 3 ft. garden over the summer.

Claudia Wyss, the executive chef at Norris, plans to use herbs and greens from the garden in dishes during the summer months. Student gardeners, including members of SEED and other environmental groups on campus, will sample the rest of the garden's bounty when they return in the fall.