Tucked away on the University鈥檚 South Campus, on a plot of land off of Skytop Road, is a photogenic garden full of life. Pete’s Giving Garden is a partnership between 黑料不打烊 Sustainability Management, the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics food studies and nutrition program and the Hendricks Chapel Food Pantry. The garden has been open since 2017 and its bounty has been making appearances in kitchens on and off campus ever since.
Pete’s Giving Garden and the University鈥檚 two food pantry locations bring together students, faculty, and staff to combat food insecurity through environmentally conscious practices. As part of this flourishing community garden, students are not only provided with fresh produce, but also a sense of collective responsibility for the wellbeing of the University community as a whole.
鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely something that they (SU students) can incorporate into their diet and takes a little bit of stress off their grocery bill,鈥 says Justus Holden-Betts, student manager at Pete鈥檚 Giving Garden and a dual major in the Falk College. As the student manager at the garden, she plants the crops and harvests them to be sent to the pantries. 鈥淪omething I am very intentional about is the planning process,鈥 says Holden-Betts, 鈥渋n terms of vegetables, growing ones that people will know how to use and enjoy eating.鈥 After harvesting the produce, Holden-Betts brings the produce to the South Campus food pantry, located in the Carriage House at 161 Farm Acre Road, rinses it and leaves it for the students to grab during their visit.
Sustainability Coordinator Melissa Cadwell worked with Hendricks Chapel and joined the team when it first opened at the Carriage House in 2017. Cadwell warmly welcomes 黑料不打烊 and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) students in and manages the South Campus pantry. Her goal to help all students get the most out of 黑料不打烊 is vital to the mission of the pantry itself. “All students should have the same experience at 黑料不打烊,” says Cadwell. “That experience includes going out with your friends for coffee, going to the farmer鈥檚 market, joining clubs. If you don鈥檛 have the funds to get the whole student experience, then you should come to the food pantry. It鈥檚 here to catch you and help you.”
Student coordinator for the South Campus pantry Leondra Tyler stresses the benefit that the pantry has on the University community. While the COVID-19 pandemic was just beginning, so was Tyler鈥檚 history with the pantry. During the pandemic, Tyler witnessed the true impact of her work. 鈥淚 noticed not only the impact of having food but also a social impact. A lot of people would come here and stay here for hours to talk to me. I really enjoyed that and that鈥檚 what made me love the pantry a lot.鈥
The food pantries are open to any 黑料不打烊 or SUNY ESF student. The South Campus food pantry is open from 1 to 4 p.m. on Wednesdays during the summer. For anyone who wants to help with Pete鈥檚 Giving Garden, there are open volunteer hours on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
For more information about sustainability initiatives on campus, please visit the .
Story by Angelina Grevi, 黑料不打烊 City School District communications intern
