Williams Sustainable Growers

garden

Williams Sustainable Growers had a great year this year full of dirty hands, endless laughter, and of course absolutely beautiful produce. Last year’s garden interns left us in a stellar place for September, and we were so excited to have many new club members. When winter came, we had a record-breaking number of applicants for Garden Board. We have been amazed at the experience and enthusiasm that our 8 new board members have brought to the garden. Their influences have already improved the garden and our organization. Recently, Moiz Rehan ’19, one of the new board members, helped forge new bonds between WSG and the local elementary school. As a Science Fellow in a pre-school classroom, Moiz organized a field trip for his class to visit and help out in our gardens. The beans the pre-schoolers planted are growing strong and we hope they come back to visit soon!
The Williams Sustainable Growers also collaborated with several groups within the Williams community. Working with Williams After Dark, WSG organized a “Make Your Own Terrarium” night complete with the finest of succulents (not grown by us). Other event highlights include “Beet it: A Thriller Thyme” our Michael Jackson and beetroot themed party complete with beetroot cocktails and a Michael Jackson scarecrow. It was the hottest event on campus this year, perhaps surpassed only by our Hedge Fund party this fall (which involved finger sandwiches and mini golf while DIY hedge-clipping videos screened in the background).

Thrilled about our recent expansion to beds beside the Zilkha Center, WSG witnessed an amazing harvest this season.  Our garlic crop in the fall was overwhelming, and this spring’s asparagus has already been a huge higarden 2t. In celebration of our plethora of produce, WSG worked with Dining services to host a delicious harvest meal to promote local food. A final recent development in the garden has been the replacement of the wooden edges to our beds in Parson’s gardens, keeping our beds looking absolutely stunning.

Next year, we will sadly be losing six phenomenal seniors. While Josh Morrison ’16 and Caroline Atwood ‘16 both served as excellent “High Priestesses” of the Garden Board, all our seniors have been leaders in our organization. They’ve had incredible impacts on both the garden and it’s tenders, and they will be sorely missed. We can’t wait to hear about the new gardens they go on to create and care for! This summer, we are leaving the gardens in the hands of MaKaila Desano-Smith ‘18 and Daniel Russell ‘19, and we are excited to hear about all the amazing things they do. Stay tuned for more garden adventures next fall!