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8 ! February 27, 2015 The Guilfordian TIJEATURES r WWW.GUILFORDIAN.COM/FEATURES Community gardens meet different needs STONY HILL CIRCLE COMMUNITY GARDEN ADDRESSES FOOD INSECURITY BY SOMMER FANNEY Staff Writer “There are some people you will run into now and again that are like, ‘We have a farm?’” said junior Marek Wojtala. “So, I can understand how other people would not know that we have a community garden on campus.” Wojtala, who works with the Hunger Fellows program through Guilford College’s Bonner Center, is familiar with both. Alternatively, there are many students who are aware of Guilford’s farm, but not the community garden, located next to the farm’s gazebo. “It is under the radar for many people,” said senior and garden manager Ruby Brinkerhoff Community gardening is a pastime for some people, and a way to get together and share knowledge and gardening space. Guilford’s community garden allows plot owners, to . garden on their own time for their own purposes, although many other community gardens are used solely to bring good, nutritious food to people who otherwise would not have access to it. “A lot of people in Greensboro do not have food at all,” said Brinkerhoff In fact, Greensboro rates number two in the country for food insecurity. Fortunately, community gardening is an effective solution to this issue. Many community gardens start with a group of at least three to five people who share a common need for gardening. Once a group and goal is established, planning and logistics such as where the garden will be located and how it will be maintained are established by the group. Tinece Payne is the founder of one of Greensboro’s several community gardens, Stoney Hill Circle Community Garden. This garden operates to provide people access to nutritious food. Payne relies on volunteers to maintain the gardens and to package and deliver food for people in Greensboro in need of the fresh produce. “We will take (the food) to other food pantries, to Greensboro Urban Ministry, to people on the street,” said Payne. “But there are a lot of people in homes that are hungry.” While the Stoney Hill Garden volunteers are able to reach more of Greensboro’s population because they deliver to those presently in need, there are still many people who do not receive food. “One of the things we are working on is assessing who needs the food,” said Payne. “We do not have a set list. It is first come, first serve, basically.” Meanwhile, Guilford’s community garden, which is currently occupied, has a limited number of plots available for purchase. Anyone has the option to purchase free plots, as long as they sign a participation agreement. “My sense is that people are very individual about it,” said Brinkerhoff “Two people (for The community garden on campus with plots for purchase can be found near the farm, located behind Haworth Field. example) will be talking about something they want to do, but I think a lot of them just go individually after work.” The differences between Guilford’s community garden and the Stony Hill Circle Community Garden are vast in terms of systemic approaches, the amount of food produced and involvement in the garden, but both and other local community gardens work into a niche needed in Greensboro to bring access to all sorts of people with unique needs. These gardens are just two examples of ways in which community gardens can be used to meet the needs of a group. “I would like to have a bank, like a food bank, eventually, once we get more people on hand, more volunteers on hand, so we can plant more,” said Payne. “I have land, but (I) need more people who can manage (it).” Payne invites students to volunteer or even intern with the Stoney Hill garden, as having more volunteers could greatly strengthen the organization’s ability to deliver food to those without access. “If everyone does a little something it could pan out to be something huge in the end, and that is how miracles happen,” Payne said. Interested students may visit VIYC.org and cobcollective. org for more information on volunteering with Stoney Hill ‘ Community Garden. Bruce B. Stewart Teaching & Community Service Awards Nominations are now being accepted for the 2015 Bruce B. Stewart Awards named in honor of Bruce B. Stewart *61. The Soles Family - Bill Soles *81 and Jan Soles Nelson *87 - generously established and endowed these awards at $5,000 each. Nomination forms & selection criteria for both awards are available in the following places: Academic Dean's Office (King 101) The Office of Human Resources (New Garden Hall) The Guilford Beacon (February 20 edition) Teaching Award nominations: return to the Academic Dean's Office Community Service Award nominations: return to the Office of Human Resources. L Deadline is March 13, 2015 President Jane Fernandes will present the awards at the annual Spring Awards Ceremony on April 10. Keep an eye out for new P-Sofe officers in the iittle red carts BYLESLYVASQUEZ Staff Writer As the new semester approaches midterms, changes are being made around the College. The latest has been two new Public Safety officers, firefighter and Captain of Station 18 James Midkiff and retired lieutenant of the Greensboro Police Department Lee Bostick. “We had two vacancies available, so the entire process requires me sending in a request form to fill in those positions through Human Resources,” said Director of Public Safety Ronald Stowe. “In this case, it was Jane Fernandes who approved.” When hiring new staff, Stowe looks for versatility and quick thinking. Most importantly, they have to help create an even better environment at Guilford and positively interact with the students. “I went through many candidates that fit those characteristics, but the ones that I picked stood out to me,” said Stowe. “Midkiff was familiar with the College and Bostick is a longtime friend of mine. He has the experience of being a police officer and takes care of business and getting along with people all while he is on duty.” Both officers are part-time, working an average of three days a week. “The great thing about both of these guys is that we can use them to fill in,” said Stowe. “We plan to use them for some of everything. They cover some gaps, so you could see them here anytime.” Midkiff chose to become a Public Safety officer because he was already very familiar with the school. He was always here when the fire alarm went off in any of the buildings. “I decided to apply because every time I came over here I noticed that the staff was really professional,” said Midkiff “I said, ‘Sure I’ll try It. As of Feb. 20, Midkiff has been working to learn how to use 167 keys and how everything works in general. Evidently, being a Public Safety officer is not just riding around in a little red cart. “I personally have had a great experience with (Public Safety) and it is great to know that the school is always bringing new P-Safe officers,” said junior Donovan Duvall.
The Guilfordian (Greensboro, N.C.)
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Feb. 27, 2015, edition 1
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