sense of place GARDEN OF LEARNING Of permaculture’s 12 principles, Professor of Environmental Studies Leon-C. Malan emphasizes “observing and interacting with the land, environment and community.” The college’s permaculture garden, nestled between the library and the Colby Homestead, was the perfect place to apply this principle over the summer. Much of the garden is the result of experimentation. To learn which microclimate ginger prefers, we grew it in the garden, the sustainable classroom and in the Curtis L. Ivey Science Center. We also added species to our food forest and annual vegetable beds, developed a rainwater catchment system off the shed’s roof, and established an identity for the garden with more signage. Each intern had individual projects, but all five of us watered, weeded and controlled pests. We learned about sustainable agriculture and what it means to maintain a garden around the ethics and principles of permaculture. – Rayla Putnan ’18 is an environmental science major from Wilton, N.H. She was joined in the garden by fellow interns Sarah Appleton ’17 of Andover, Mass.; Jake Conroy ’17 of Conway, Mass.; Torh Hinneh ’17 of Monrovia, Liberia; and Emily Lopez ’17 of Camden, Maine. Photo by Greg Danilowski
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