CU student vegetable garden (Ecoplex vegetable garden)

Ecoplex vegetable garden (late October)

The students at the Clemson University Ecoplex (a duplex retrofitted with energy-conserving features) were up for trying a vegetable garden this fall.

They weren't experienced, but game, and following soil prep (and support and encouragement by an committed CU Housing staff member (Gary Gaulin), I helped them plant out transplants of lettuces, mustards, and red cabbage as well as sowing seeds of mesclun mix and other greens in late September.

I was delighted to receive this photo late last week (in addition to reports along the way).

The fall vegetables have been flourishing, and the students report that they've been sharing lettuce and greens with neighbors and others.

Student volunteers

Thanks to Bethany Avery, the Snell Vegetable Garden is looking quite tidy. A student volunteer, she responded to our call for vegetable garden volunteers in September.

She's helped harvest cherry tomatoes, beans, and peppers (which go to the Clemson Community Care food bank), and helped zap most of the winter annual weeds that have popped up everywhere.

We're sowed turnip greens, radishes, lettuce, kale, arugula, and transplanted broccoli, cabbage, and collards for our fall/winter garden rotation.

It will be interesting to see how the season progresses.