The Gallatin Garden

The mission:

Our goal is to bring more green to Gallatin in an effort to improve the university’s sustainability, build community, and provide students and staff with access to fresh, allergen-sensitive herbs and produce. Interest in the garden has proven to be extensive among the student body from across disciplines. Our research team has been in communication with numerous students and faculty with multifaceted experience, ranging from environmental science, computer science, design, urbanism, and all across the STEM spectrum.

We are running an adopt-a-plant program, providing seedlings and young plants that we have germinated to be placed in faculty members’ offices. We aim to bring more plant life to the Gallatin space during the semesters and send the plants to “foster homes” over the summer to be cared for when the building is closed.

The project is run by student members of STAC, with oversight from Cyd Cipolla. There are currently four members working on the Gallatin Garden and reported interest from over a dozen additional students. Initial prototypes have shown the feasibility of automating growth cycles, and the research team has found success with automating grow lights, water dispersal, and monitoring systems.