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...

By Caoimhe Farrell • October 24, 2024 • News

It was breezy Friday afternoon — the kind of March day that begs you to throw on a sweatshirt and head outside. As soon as work let out, Evan Krabill and Paul Drescher grabbed their bikes and set out for a ride. They peddled past ducks and geese on the Millrace before veering off the limestone path into the Larry Beachy Classified Forest.  “I had found a sweet drop-off that I wanted to show Paul near the Reith Interpretive Center,” Krabill said.  The two Goshen College seniors ended up finding more than just the jump; they discovered a new mountain...

By Sierra Ross Richer • March 25, 2021 • Features

This past week, students and faculty involved with burning the Miller-Kratz Prairie slipped into their flame-resistant jumpsuits and donned a hard hat, goggles and a shroud to protect themselves. Backpack sprayers sat heavily on their shoulders, used to put out any stray flames that came too close to the green grass. The flattened prairie brush was their target.  There are protocols that have to be followed in order to keep the fire from running amok, junior environmental science major Josie Strader, one of the student prairie managers, explained.  “We first have to identify the direction the wind is coming from,...

By Liam Morris • March 25, 2021 • Features

Two apple trees, biology, and a high school chemistry class paved senior sustainability major, Harrison Gingerich’s future. Gingerich grew up in Canby, Oregon with two apple trees in his backyard. The apple trees, planted when Gingerich was just 8 years old, have led him to his passion today — experimenting with growing food and making drinks. He dreams of owning his own brewery or a small business where he gets to create foods or beverages every single day.  He wants to make people happy through his work. “Being a sustainability and specifically, a sustainable foods systems major has taught me...

By Natan Nafziger • January 28, 2021 • Features

Gardeners, foodies and lovers of seeds will gather in the Church-Chapel on Saturday for the second annual Michiana Regional Seed Swap.  The seed swap, organized by staff at the Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center, is a free educational event in which gardeners, businesses and community organizations working in the regional food system will share seeds, learn about new varieties and build relationships.  Marcos Stoltzfus, director of environmental education outreach, was inspired to organize the event after attending a seed swap in central Michigan. He was impressed by the diverse group of over 400 gardeners from Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and multiple...

By Gabe Miller • January 16, 2020 • News

Two young people have a presence on the Goshen College campus despite the fact that they never had a chance to attend classes here, as leukemia took their lives over 30 years ago. Their father, Ervin Beck, a former English professor, can often be found tending to the garden that was established as a memorial for the two children, Joel and Sarah. The memorial garden, located behind the Newcomer Center, is a shady, quiet and comfortable space in which to relax, do homework or eat lunch. The garden is visible when you enter through the back entrance of Newcomer or...

By Brad Stoltzfus • October 26, 2017 • Features

Students that walk by the campus prairie patches may encounter native plants, flowers and insects. But for several students, working with insects—especially bees—is a deliberate choice. Andy Ammons, assistant professor of Biology and fondly referred to as the “bee guy” around campus, heads up a variety of bee projects. “I believe in an integrated experience,” said Ammons. “Time with both the field work and lab is important.” Josh Yoder, a junior, worked at Merry Lea over the summer doing research on bees. “I do field collection. One part looks at numbers and diversity mainly in bees. (Another looks) at the diversity...

By Tamara Carrington • October 4, 2012 • Features

Imagine a summer spent flying over the tops of trees in a savannah, watching elephants, zebras, giraffes and hyenas pad the grasses below. For four Goshen College students and one professor, this past June provided an opportunity to do just that. Ryan Sensenig, an associate professor of biology and field research, led a six-week trip to Africa, with Luke Zehr, a junior, David Stoesz, a senior and recent graduates Tori Yoder and Laura Schlabach. The trip was a follow-up visit for Sensenig, who had done previous research in Kenya and had been planning to take students along with him for...

By Kate Stoltzfus • November 2, 2011 • Features

Every Friday afternoon at four p.m., Glenn Gilbert heads out to the new native prairies growing on campus. Gilbert, sustainability coordinator for Goshen College, invites anyone else interested in learning more about the prairies to join him in experiencing the native plant growth. For Gilbert, the goal of the program is “to get people to experience this radical change on our campus, to learn about it, to enjoy it.” JFNew, the company hired by the college to oversee the growing project, is pleased with the progress the native plants have made, Gilbert said. “There are some flowering plants that they...

By Ben Sutter • September 7, 2011 • Features

May Term is a time for sun, focused learning, and unusual classes. Many students will be leaving campus—some for SST, some for Arts in London, some for Marine Biology in Florida, some for Spain and Morocco, and some for Minnesota. Yes, Minnesota. This May Term, the Camping and Recreation class will be camping in the Minnesota Boundary Waters wilderness for two weeks. The Boundary Waters wilderness area consists of 1.5 million acres of pristine wilderness on the border between Minnesota and Canada. It is protected by the US Forest Service and is a spectacular place for canoeing, hiking, and camping....

By Kristina Mast • March 10, 2011 • Features

On a campus which has already participated in 350, started a Re-Use Thrift store and proposed a composting program for the cafeteria, environmental concerns are certainly active at Goshen College.  But many Goshen College students are looking for another way to remain good stewards to the environment—only this time they aim to speak for the trees. This semester, the college began the process of qualifying for Tree Campus USA, a national program supported by the Arbor Day foundation. It recognizes colleges and universities that are encouraging conscientious action about tree planting and preservation within their communities. The college will work to...

By Emily Taylor • February 12, 2010 • Features