Central Michigan University has its own set of ‘secret’ gardens.

A garden can be sighted in front of the Print Services building, by Theunissen Stadium, and behind the Student Activity Center.

The three vegetable gardens are cared for by a student organization called Campus Grows. The organization’s focus is to grow organic food better for the environment.

The organization has four student members — Chris Venegas, Zach Robinson, Jessica Gibbons, and Josh Black — that participate in the program’s internship. The internships and garden project are sponsored by the Mount Pleasant Food Project, from which Campus Grows originated.

“They basically said, ‘Here’s 30,000 square feet… go farm it,’” said Venegas, a Manistee senior, said about the opportunity the Mount Pleasant Food Project gave to start the program.

Venegas helped start the Mount Pleasant Food Project and Campus Grows. After receiving approval to cultivate CMU’s land, Venegas, along with the other three student members, got to work on the gardens.

The team of four worked on the gardens more during the summer. Classes made tending to them difficult.

“I try to swing by for an hour or two to water at least everyday,” Zach Robinson, a Blanchard senior, said. “It can be hectic at times. The four of us came together basically winging it this whole summer.”

Campus Grows sells 10’-by-10’ plots of land to anyone who wishes to own a garden. First purchase costs $25, the second $15. In the future, Campus Grows hopes to sell the leftover plants and vegetables as compost.

The money made will pay for necessary investments, such as fencing, to protect the gardens from animals, and seeds.

Farmers and Mount Pleasant residents donate a great deal of seed, which is just as important as money to the organization . As a result of seed and plant donations, a variety of crops grow in the gardens.

Such crops include corn, onions, squash and kaele, a plant similar to lettuce. Campus Grows encourages students to stop by to pick some of the food.

The crops are sold at farmers markets and at Kaya Coffee House, 1029 S. University St. Some of the food is donated to soup kitchens and food banks as well.

Students and nonstudents are welcome to volunteer and do not have to be a member of Campus Grows or the Mount Pleasant Food Project to participate.

Today, Campus Grows has high expectations and goals for the future. Such plans include using the garden for educational purposes and supplying fresh, organic and campus-grown food to CMU dining halls.

Robinson said the experience has been quite enjoyable.

“It’s self rewarding because it’s nice to be able to grow your own food and reaping the benefits of it,” Robinson said.

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