Many of the student gardens at the Commonwealth Campuses offer the produce through farm stands and food pantries. The effort brings healthy food options to areas where people may not regularly have access to them, or might not have the resources to buy them. Students and community members alike benefit from the programs, which are open to the public.
Beyond tending to plants and vegetables, students can intern or volunteer with the campus gardens to learn about a variety of disciplines and conduct research. The spaces offer an opportunity for hands-on, experiential learning.
During her time with the garden at Penn State Beaver, student Cody Lewis has found a love for flowers. She's learned to dry them, and helped prep for classes to make paint pigments from them.
A member of the Hershey Community Garden cuts flat leaf Italian parsley at the garden located on the campus of Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. The garden brings community members together to share tips and tricks, as well as grow their own produce.
The campus garden at Penn State Shenango is finishing its 13th season of operation this year. The space produces an abundance of vegetables and other plants for students and the community to enjoy.
From left: Fayette County Commissioner and Secretary Dave Lohr, Penn State Fayette Mental Health Counselor Amanda Collins, Fayette County Commissioner and Vice Chairman Vince Vicites, and Fayette County Commissioner and Chairman Scott Dunn stand together after signing a proclamation recognizing September as Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month.
From left to right: Lindsey Simon-Jones, interim chancellor and chief academic officer of Penn State Fayette; Megan Nagel, regional chancellor of Penn State Fayette, Greater Allegheny and New Kensington; Kristy Bishop, interim president of Westmoreland County Community College; and Cynthia Proctor, interim vice president of Westmoreland County Community College academic affairs, sign a new articulation agreement to enhance transfer opportunities between Penn State Fayette and Westmoreland County Community College.
