One of Goshen College’s most unknown features is a small garden located along the train tracks at 1623 South 9th Street. The space was created in 2013 and, today, roughly nine people tend to the garden patch. It is cultivated by anyone who is interested and provides the opportunity for students and faculty to grow produce and get their hands dirty.
Someone who takes part in caring for the garden is Maynard Miller, adult and graduate admissions counselor. Miller became involved because he “always had a huge garden” before his move to Goshen and wanted to rekindle that love for gardening. The plot is highly beneficial to “folks who don’t have their own garden,” Miller said. He commended Glenn Gilbert, former director of facilities at Goshen College, who helped to create the garden almost 12 years ago.Along with Miller, Jeanette Harder, professor of social work, also works on the garden. Harder explained that after the pandemic, the garden was largely overgrown. She said there were weeds “taller than you and me.” It was in clearing these weeds that a sculpture, created by GC students a few years ago, was discovered.
Dan Barwick, sustainability coordinator, also spoke highly of the track-side garden. Barwick recommended this garden as it is “open for anyone to use.” Barwick also suggested, “maybe we could get AVI involved with using some of the vegetables in their cooking,” highlighting its potential to give back to the community at Goshen College.
This was just one example Barwick gave of how students could benefit from the garden while helping it flourish. Miller and Harder echoed his thoughts and all three stressed one notion to improve the space: more student involvement.
They expressed that student involvement would be hugely beneficial to the garden and also to students’ mental health and well-being.
Harder expressed her love for the community that the garden creates: “I want to garden with others. It’s the community piece. It’s doing it together.”
Barwick said, “Student involvement is always the priority.”
