University of Massachusetts Amherst
ER-T2-2: Organic Garden

The UMass Permaculture Initiative is a unique and cutting-edge sustainability program that converts underused grass lawns on the campus into edible, low-maintenance, and easily replicable gardens. This initiative was created by students and then adopted and funded by our administration in 2010. Students and permaculture staff work together along with UMass Dining Services, the Campus Sustainability Initiative, and many other departments to demonstrate the vision of what a sustainable community and world can look like.

There are now four Permaculture Gardens on campus:

1. Franklin Permaculture Garden

Location: Franklin Dining Commons

Groundbreaking: Fall semester 2010
The Story: The UMass Permaculture Initiative, with help from student and local volunteers, embarked on the arduous mission to transform the otherwise unproductive grass lot adjacent to Franklin Dining Commons on campus into a highly productive, aesthetically pleasing, educational, sustainable garden.

2. Worcester Herb Garden

Location: Worcester Dining Commons

Groundbreaking: Summer 2011
The Story: Chef Don Sabola started the Worcester Herb Garden in 2009 to have a fresh source for herbs right outside the Worcester Dining Commons. In 2011 after our first sheet mulch of the Franklin Permaculture Garden, the Worcester Herb Garden was given to us to transform and maintain. For this garden, the UMass Permaculture Initiative worked with UMass Dining staff to develop a dynamic herb garden adjacent to the Worcester Dining Commons. The site was designed with chefs’ needs in mind, is easy to harvest by dining staff, is aesthetically pleasing, and improves ecological diversity.

3. Class of 2012 Berkshire Permaculture Garden

Location: Berkshire Dining Commons

Groundbreaking: Fall 2011

The Story: The Class of 2012 Berkshire Permaculture Garden is our newest on-campus garden, generously funded by the Class of 2012 Senior Class Gift Fund. Before we did any work on the site, we observed signs of compaction, erosion, and nutrient depletion in the soils. We’re now in the process of converting this formally-neglected site into an ecological haven with rich, fertile soil and lots of biodiversity.

4. Chancellor's House Garden

Permaculture Initiative: http://www.umassdining.com/sustainability/permaculture

Franklin Garden: http://www.umassdining.com/sustainability/permaculture/franklin-permaculture-garden

Worcester: http://www.umassdining.com/sustainability/permaculture/worcester-herb-garden

Berkshire: http://www.umassdining.com/sustainability/permaculture/class-2012-berkshire-permaculture-garden