麻豆视频

Have You Seen 麻豆视频's Banana Trees?

Students experience the green oasis in the heart of campus.

Last Friday, a group of about 10 麻豆视频 students received a guided tour of one of the most unique spaces on the Kent Campus 鈥 the Herrick Conservatory. It鈥檚 the large greenhouse that鈥檚 attached to the north side of Cunningham Hall.  

The 5,500-square-foot facility is home to a large and diverse selection of plants, plus some fish and a couple of turtles. Highlights of the collection include a 30-year-old rubber tree and strawberry guava tree, banana trees, flowering plants and vegetables, succulents, tropical varieties and even carnivorous plants. 

The tour was led by Melissa Davis, BS 鈥04, MS 鈥10, the horticultural facilities director since 2014, and arranged in partnership between the Center for Ecology and Natural Resource Sustainability (CENRS) and the Environmental Science and Design Research Institute (ESDRI).  

The ESDRI Fellows 
 
Michelle Escalambre, MA 鈥20, a special assistant at ESDRI, explained that the institute sponsors an undergraduate fellows' program, and this tour was designed to help introduce the conservatory to this year鈥檚 class of fellows and any other students interested in environmental science. 鈥淏ecause we鈥檝e been off-campus for the past two years because of the pandemic, this will be the first time that any of these students, especially the undergrads, are going to be in the greenhouse,鈥 Escalambre said.  

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Student Kathryn Burns, in the greenhouse.

One of the fellows taking the tour was Kathryn Burns, a junior environmental studies major from Lyndhurst, Ohio. 鈥淚鈥檓 really interested in food waste,鈥 said Burns. 鈥淚鈥檓 very interested in the human impact on the environment. After school, I鈥檓 not sure what my plans are, but I鈥檓 interested in conservation education.鈥 Burns said she would like to explore parks management, perhaps as a park ranger, and working with young children to help teach them about the importance of conservation.  

Committing to a space  

Kyot膿 Youst is also an ESDRI fellow. From Hanoverton, Ohio, they are in their senior year, with three semesters remaining in a dual major of environmental studies and psychology. Youst said they are 鈥渓earning a lot, meeting wonderful people and making good connections鈥 at 麻豆视频.

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Student Kyote Youst peeking through the trees in the Herrick Conservatory.

Youst is passionate about the work of gardening and 鈥渃ommitting to a space.鈥  

As part of their studies, Youst works as a community partner advocate at a local garden at Kent鈥檚 Walls Elementary School, through the Let鈥檚 Grow Together Coalition. The garden is supported by 麻豆视频 students, faculty and volunteers. Teachers at the elementary school create activities and educational opportunities for their students in the garden. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just a magical space,鈥 said Youst.  

鈥淓ating is one of the most pleasurable, inherent things that we can do after drinking water,鈥 they said. 鈥淎nd when you get to grow it yourself, there鈥檚 nothing like it. You鈥檙e just holding it in your hands; I made this happen and now it鈥檚 going to take care of me and now I鈥檓 going to keep going. There鈥檚 this big, beautiful cycle going on and I love it. It鈥檚 so fun. It鈥檚 magical.鈥 

A living, teaching resource 

Jennifer Heisler, from Kent, is a doctoral candidate in curriculum and instruction with an emphasis on science education. She鈥檚 considering using the greenhouse in some of the classes she鈥檚 teaching this semester.

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Doctoral student/instructor Jennifer Heisler amongst the greenery inside the Herrick Conservatory.

 

鈥淚鈥檓 looking at possibly bringing over some classes to experience some of the wonder and beauty that we have here,鈥 said Heisler.

She plans to graduate within the year and wishes to continue her research in science education. 

"I鈥檓 looking at some different areas of research studies, such as nature connectedness and international exchange programs within science education.鈥 

Opportunities to get involved 

The conservatory is maintained by the Herrick Conservatory and Sustainability Club (a.k.a. 鈥淭he Greenhouse Club鈥) - a student organization that also offers open volunteer hours at the conservatory on Fridays for students who want to become involved with greenhouse programs and for experiential learning opportunities. Otherwise, the conservatory has regular hours each semester and is also open by appointment.  
 
Students from "The Greenhouse Club" harvest the fruits and vegetables grown in the conservatory and use them in their club鈥檚 fundraising efforts. On Friday, the club members, including club president Megan Homison, were collecting fruit from the strawberry guava tree for use in an upcoming bake sale. In the harvest season, the group鈥檚 members also harvest seeds from the conservatory and around campus to plant for their annual plant sale fundraising event, held Spring Semester, during the week before finals.  

To learn more about the Herrick Conservatory, check out this article from the 麻豆视频 Magazine: /magazine/greenhouse.

On Friday, Sept. 23, Davis will be leading a group activity at 麻豆视频鈥檚 Climate Change Grove, located near the Warren Student Recreation and Wellness Center. At 鈥淭rees for the Future: Reforesting the Kent Campus,鈥 volunteers will be invited to plant tree saplings in the grove. All are welcome and tools will be provided. Learn more here: /biology/event/trees-future-reforesting-kent-campus.

POSTED: Monday, September 19, 2022 04:48 PM
Updated: Friday, December 9, 2022 06:41 PM
WRITTEN BY:
Phil B. Soencksen