Celebrating Earth Day 2011
Professor of English Marc Hudson read "For the Coming Garden," a poem he had written for the occasion.
"To be mindful is not easy, yet necessary for all to live," Hudson wrote:
"It's not so visionary
to do this: to widen our compassion
not simply as stewards, after a fashion,
of this planet, but as real gardeners
of this real Earth, laboring as partners
with its processes, teaching a practice of care
to our children. We don't make it out of thin air
but out of soil and rough hands grown tender:
We kneel on the earth and plant. Now. Here."
Faculty and students gathered Thursday to celebrate Earth Day (a day early) and to formally dedicate an expansion to the Wabash Community Garden project begun last year by the Students for Sustainability and the College's Environmental Concerns Committee in partnership with the College's Bon Appetit food services.
Included among this year's additions was a sign made by Art Department Assistant Tony Kashon.
ECC Co-Chair Professor Doug Calisch directs the planting of 15 fruit trees for the plot's new orchard, while Assistant Professor of Philosophy Mark Brouwer digs a hole for one of the trees.
The expansion of the garden in its second includes a fence (the old home run fence from Mud Hollow, donated by the baseball team), a much larger area, and a gardening shed designed and built by students.