George Washington University
ER-T2-2: Organic Garden

In fall 2009 GW opened its first on-campus garden: The GroW Community Garden. It is a project of the student group, The Food Justice Alliance, implemented in partnership with the GW Department of Landscape Design and the GW Office of Sustainability. The group was founded in spring 2009 to "restore the environment, promote community, build relationships, and pursue justice through food". The garden was the recipient of a Fulbright Grant for Eco-Leadership and the funds were used to enhance and expand the garden. In Fall 2011, the garden received a $20,000 award from a contest put on by Nature's Path to fund expansion and enhancement in the space. In the summer growing season of 2012, over 1,200 pounds of food from the garden were donated to a local soup kitchen, Miriam's Kitchen. Starting in Fall 2013, the GroW Garden is collaborating monthly with the neighborhood Farmers' Market to promote the garden and the benefits of urban gardening at the market. In addition, through our partnership with the DC non-profit Casey Trees, native trees will be planted in the space replacing a non-native, invasive species that had previously grown there. The garden is organic and the student gardeners consistently seek out local vendors who can provide them with pesticide-free soil, mulch and compost. The Office of Sustainability funds a garden manager student intern position to maintain the space and coordinate student and community involvement with the garden.