NEWS STAFF CONTENTS
FEATURE
Pg. 6-7 - The “Drill, Baby, Drill” Agenda
Pg. 10 - Steps You Can Take
Pg. 11 - Down in the Dirt
Pg. 16-17 - Preserving Our Prairie
Pg. 17 - Sunshines and Turbines
Pg. 19 - Rooted in Health
OPINION
Pg. 3 - Letter from the Editor
Pg. 12-13 - Generative AI’s Environmental Footprint
NEWS
Pg. 4-5 - Climate Clock
Pg. 14 - About Evergy
Pg. 14-15 - Staffing Cuts Harm Federal Land Workers
Pg. 18 - Monarch Watch
A&E
Pg. 8-9 - Photo Gallery
ABOUT THE COVER
Symbolizing the destruction done to our planet by humans, the burning globe represents Earth’s current trajectory, which ultimately leads to its demise depicted on the back cover. We had a short window to take the photo when the globe was on fire, similar to the amount of time we have to put our own Earth’s fire out. Photo by Nathan Kramer and Mallory Thompson.
SOCIALS MISSION STATEMENT
Curious Free State journalists will amplify voices, gather superior sources and tell pivotal stories of our community in a visually creative way in order to serve our audience and foster quality scholastic journalism in Lawrence, Kansas.
EDITORS-IN-CHIEF
Lilly Wall
Nick Sprecker
Phoebe Morris
MANAGING EDITORS
Evie Chancy
Maria Mosconi
DESIGN EDITOR
Geneva Sabatini
ASST. DESIGN EDITOR
Willow Marable
PHOTO EDITORS
Mallory Thompson
Nathan Kramer
ASST. PHOTO EDITORS
Julia Velasco
CAPTIONS EDITOR
Elinor Russo
SPORTS EDITOR
Rakshan Ossen
COPY EDITOR
Elliot Skillman
ASST. COPY EDITORS
Lauren Rosen
Meredith Shryock
ONLINE
EDITORS-IN-CHIEF
Simon Williams
Ember Klein
ONLINE
MANAGING EDITOR
Baila Love
SOCIAL MEDIA
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Katie Campbell
ASST. SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR
Delaney Bayliss
BUSINESS EDITOR
Piper Northrop
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Sydney Brozik Nathan Friedman
Chloe Cook
Elinor Russo
Amelia Wiles
REPORTERS
Elinor Bisby
Jonah Frye
Willow Marable
Eula Heriford
Logan Dinges
Simon Williams
DESIGNERS
Lucas Smith
Willow Marable
Neylana Haque
Harper Finck
BUSINESS
Ainsley Linhos
Amanda McCall Bella Lylo
Abbie Veeder
McCall
Photo by Mallory Thompson
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
By Lilly Wall
Senior Editor-in-Chief reflects on last issue as EIC
Firebirds,
Happy April!
First, I want to thank you for taking the time to pick up the newspaper. This is one of the last issues I will work on as the editor-inchief of The Free Press. I’ve spent countless hours crafting a paper I am proud of. As a final goodbye —and in honor of Earth Month —our editorial staff dedicated a specialty issue to Mother Nature.
I want to invest in a matter that is not only important to me but to the student body; this paper is me and my co-editors’ way of doing so.
Our planet is facing extreme danger. Greenhouse gases are at an all time high. The burning of fossil fuels and carbon emissions are contributing to dangerously high levels of CO2. Plastic waste is suffocating our ecosystems. Disruptions in the environment are driving species into extinction.
Permanent damage is being done to our Earth. These tragedies aren’t a coincidence— they are the result of human actions. We are taking advantage of what’s around us.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve seen greed control decisions and Earth pay the price for it. We are stuck on a broken record, acting on selfishness and making the same dangerous decisions over and over again.
In November, our country elected a president who is historically acknowledged for rolling back environmental protection reforms, describing climate change as a “con job” and withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement within moments of stepping into the Oval Office.
Greed is killing the land we stand on: self-absorbed companies, lawmakers and powerful figures are exploiting the ground our homes lie on.
Selfishness is suffocating the decisions that are being made in the government; selfish thinking that all of this land is at our disposal, to drill down to the detriment of our subsurfaces. This land doesn’t belong to just us. Entire ecosystems and species are being wiped out at the hands of habitat loss and climate change.
I encourage you to read the stories in this paper. The pages are designed to educate you on current events but also give you the knowledge needed to form your own opinion.
Above all else, I urge you to listen to the voices of experts. I urge you to listen to the science that says we are in apparent — and nearly irreversible — damage. We only have four years left to limit global warming to 1.5°C.
We need change in our decision making. We need change in our legislation. And we need to do it before it’s too late. The clock is ticking.
CLIMATE
*Editor’s Note: The clock was last updated on April 15 at 8 a.m. CST due to printing purposes. Visit the climateclock.world for the most recent version
CLOCK
On Sept. 19, 2020, the climate clock went live.
The “orange-tinted letters count down the time window remaining for humanity to act to save itself and its only home from the ravages of climate chaos,” according to the Climate Clock website.
Now, the project has clocks up in numerous cities such as Berlin, Rome, Seoul and New York City.
The Clock’s deadline displays greenhouse gas emissions, stating that Earth has less than
eight years left in our global “carbon budget” that gives two-thirds a chance of staying under the critical threshold of 1.5°C of global warming.
To bring awareness to the global emergency, The Free Press editors created a specialty issue focusing on the grounds we stand on; we constructed an issue with no distractions or extra coverage to get in the way. We urge the Free State community to understand the severity of this issue. Flip to begin reading.
THE “DRILL, BABY, DRILL” AGENDA
Experts explain the environmental impacts of fracking
In 1947, the first hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, experiment took place in Grant County, Kansas. Since then, according to the Kansas Geological Survey, one million fracking wells have been drilled into American land — 57,000 of them being in Kansas.
Fracking is a process used to extract fossil fuels, like oil and natural gases, by fracturing bedrock with high-pressure liquid.
By pumping a water mixture into a rock surface, fractures are created, allowing for a freer flow of oil and gas.
According to the United States Energy Information Administration, fracking’s introduction resulted in a sudden increase in America’s crude oil production after it had been plateauing then decreasing from the 1970s to the 2010s.
In a study from the EIA, the country has been the leading producer of crude oil since 2018, turning out more than 2 million more barrels on average per day than its closest competitor due to fracking.
According to the Center for Biological Diversity, domestic oil production hit a high in 2024, also the hottest year in recorded history because of fossil fuel.
Still, Associate Director and Senior Scientist Brendan Bream said that fracking plays an essential role in energy production today.
“We'd be a bit foolish not to understand how much energy is generated from oil and gas production, and it won't be easily replaced,” Bream said. “So we need things like hydraulic fracturing to keep production up.”
On his first day in office, President Donald Trump issued an executive order declaring the nation’s first national energy emergency, despite America leading the world in crude oil and natural gas production.
Throughout his campaign, Trump coined the slogan “drill, baby, drill” to show his support for expanding fracking in America. Trump said that expanding fracking and the energy industry would support domestic industry, provide jobs and lower gas prices.
Following the executive order, the White House released a presidential order aimed at increasing national energy production. This order targeted previous government regulations protecting the environment and required agencies to drop any policies that would hinder energy production.
To reverse climate change and cool down to preindustrial climates, scientists say there needs to be a rapid reduction of carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels.
Kansas University Environmental Studies Program Director Chris Brown said that when weighing environmental and economic
Story by Maria Mosconi
effects, there is a missed opportunity to value the environment’s intrinsic value.
“Any fossil fuel production is detrimental to climate goals,” Brown said. “Concerning all of our activities, economic interests often overshadow any environmental risks or concerns. Fracking is no different in this regard.”
Fracking pollution can be divided into two categories: direct and indirect.
Director and State Geologist of Kansas Jay Kalbas said that direct pollution includes emissions that fracking produces as well as water and ground pollution, which is produced rarely because of error. Meanwhile, indirect pollution is due to the emissions of the fuel that fracking extracts.
Bream said the chances of water or ground pollution due to a leak are slim.
Kalbas also said that while it is a common misconception, fracking is not the cause of earthquakes the vast majority of the time.
“It's safe, effective and is enormously helpful for unlocking hydrocarbons that would otherwise stay in the ground,” Kalbas said. “But it's something that has to be done with regulation, and we have to make sure that we're doing it right.”
Fracking uses an abundance of natural resources. As reported by Environment America, fracking produced 14 billion gallons of wastewater in 2014, and 360,000 acres of land have been damaged because of fracking since 2005.
Kalbas said producers go through a permitting process to ensure that the land drilled isn’t harming any endangered species. According to Vox, however, Trump’s agenda seems to align with the desire to remove the requirement for these environmental protections.
Senior Fiona Wynn, who plans on pursuing environmental sciences, said she believes that these policies are a step backward for the environment.
“It's definitely nerve-racking to see all of it happening. The more it develops into a bigger thing to push aside the environmental aspects for convenience,” Wynn said, “[the more] it definitely gives me a feeling of a rush to do something.”
NATURE PHOTO GALLERY
Skipper, Lawrence, KS
Photo by Elinor Russo
Black labradoodle, Beltane Ranch, CA
Photo by Nathan Friedman
Green sea turtle, Ho’okipa Beach, HI
Photo by Chloe Cook
Ho’okipa Beach, Maui, HI
Photo by Chloe Cook
Longhorn, Beltane Ranch, CA
Photo by Nathan Friedman
Breckenridge, CO
Photo by Mallory Thompson
Chipmunk, St. Elmo, CO
Photo by Elinor Russo
Yellowstone Club, MT
Photo by Nathan Friedman
Orca, Strait of Juan de Fuca, WA
Photo by Elinor Russo
1.
THINK BEFORE YOU SHOP.
Every product made has an environmental impact due to the resources needed to manufacture it. Consider buying second-hand and look for products made from lower impact materials — such as wool and cotton — and that require minimal packaging and shipping.
2. ELIMINATE PERSONAL PLASTIC USE.
According to the Center for Biological Biodiversity, currently 80% of marine debris is plastics. To minimize waste, avoid using singleuse plastics, practice purchasing items made with alternate materials and avoid items packaged with plastic.
3.
CHOOSE ORGANIC AND LOCAL FOODS.
Approximately 5.6 billion pounds of pesticides are used globally each year, according to the National Library of Medicine. Pesticides harm habitats by contaminating soil and water. Choosing organic foods helps lower the pesticides that are used for commercial farming, and purchasing local foods helps eliminate the transportation emissions associated with food distribution.
STEPS YOU CAN TAKE
Ways to be environmentally conscious and take action
Collected by Simon Williams
TAKE ACTION
Pressure your local government representatives and lawmakers to adopt environmentally friendly policies.
Stay aware of environment-related issues in your community by staying up to date on local news and government.
Participate in local environmental initiatives, projects or movements.
DOWN IN THE DIRT
Sophia del Valle works to spread awareness of environmental conservation
Story by Elle Bisby
Sophomore Sofia del Valle was first introduced to her love for ecology through her childhood TV screen, watching shows like National Geographic, Wild Kratts and Octonauts, which would all eventually influence her passions.
Del Valle said she recalls the animals’ well-being sparking an interest for her; as the state of the environment worsens, more people plan on helping it. Motivated by this, del Valle said she plans to study ecology and work in conservation.
“I became passionate for the sake of protecting other animals because we’re animals too,” del Valle said. ”When they die, we die because we’re all in this big, complicated system, so without them, we don’t exist, and they matter just as much as we do.”
Although she has plans to conserve the environment, she said her first steps are small things that everyone can do.
“I think it’s just talking about it and letting other people know that sometimes the actions they take are harmful,” del Valle
said, “I don’t leave my car on and I don’t drive if I don’t need to.”
Additionally, she said she believes that these small actions are important, as if one person gives up on the environment, then it permits more people to do the same.
“Other people should be passionate because we all live in the same world, and we all need to protect it, because if one of us doesn’t, then other people will think that it’s okay to not care, and then everybody stops caring,” del Valle said.
Despite feeling disheartened toward people who have given up on the environment, del Valle said she still chooses to keep caring, investing and staying hopeful for the sake of Earth’s future.
“I’m never going to stop. I will never stop until something is done and something helps and something works,” del Valle said. “Because without [the environment], we lose something beautiful in the world … it’s in more need of saving than it’s ever been.”
Smiling for the camera, future environmentalist and sophomore Sofia del Valle sits on a bench.
Photo by Sydney Brozik
Opinion by Nick Sprecker
GENERATIVE AI’S ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT
The deployment of AI comes with rapid environmental consequences
The introduction and advancements of AI have undeniably arrived, as it’s stationed a foothold in the door of the world. ChatGPT has 300 million users worldwide, and there are no signs of slowing down anytime soon. However, the studied impacts it has on our environment are proving it to be a taxing commodity.
Whether in school labs or tucked away in basements, many of us recall old, bulky desktop computers. These towers, along with technology such as gaming consoles and cable boxes, heat up after prolonged use. This occurs as they convert electrical energy into the processing power required for games and browsing, generating heat in the process.
At the turn of more wireless and lightweight technology, those hunky boxes didn’t just disappear — well, figuratively. Processing capacity must be stored somewhere — the internet is often thought of as just being in “the cloud.” This couldn’t be further from the truth.
In reality, that processing power is now stored in gigantic networks of computers inside millions of square footage of data centers globally. ABi Research predicts that by the end of 2025, there will be over 6,000 public data centers worldwide and that over 8,300 will be in operation by 2030.
The computers in these data centers evidently get hot, and their cooling system uses water to keep the hardware from overheating. This is no secret, and has been a practice for quite some time.
The
issue occurs here: a single ChatGPT query requires roughly 1,500% more energy than a single Google search query, depending on size. More heat means more water is needed to cool the computer systems storing the energy. AI servers require data center computers to run hotter. Much hotter.
Microsoft, whose Azure data centers run ChatGPT, said its annual global water consumption jumped to nearly 1.7 billion gallons, mainly due to its AI research.
Ashish Kapoor, the Senior Policy Analyst for the Piedmont Environmental Council, stated that “One ChatGPT request is equivalent to pouring out a bottle of water or powering a light bulb for 15 minutes.”
Per the Washington Post, simply asking AI to craft a 100-word email requires 519 milliliters of water. Extrapolate this to ChatGPT’s 123.5 million daily users, and a staggering 17 million gallons of water would be used daily just for that — not to mention that most users enter more than one query and ask it to do things far more strenuous than compose a brief email.
The demand for water has sounded alarms over sustainability, especially in regions that already experience water scarcity. These data centers mostly source their water from municipal or regional water utility companies. While some of this water is recyclable, large amounts of stress are still placed onto water source due to the sheer amount of energy required to run AI models.
The largest concern may be that AI — and its development — is contributing to an already suffering carbon dioxide emissions crisis.
The computational power required to train AI software is staggering.
According to Mosharaf Chowdhury, a computer scientist and associate professor at the University of Michigan, “...training the GPT-3 model just once consumes 1,287 megawatt hours, which is enough to supply an average U.S. household for 120 years.”
In a different context, the process can emit roughly 626,000 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent, nearly five
times the lifetime emissions of an average American vehicle.
So, how can this be fixed, or at least reduced? Much of the heavy lifting must be done by AI manufacturing companies like Meta, Google and Amazon to ensure that cooling water is recyclable and that carbon emissions aren’t damaging our planet.
However, there is certainly personal accountability attached. AI can do many things, but it shouldn’t be writing your grocery lists, essays or emails. You shouldn’t be querying back and forth with ChatGPT like it’s your personal robot. If everyone trims their AI usage, our world will be much cleaner.
By 2026, the electricity consumption of data centers is expected to approach 1,050 terawatts
The power needed to train and deploy a model generates about of carbon dioxide
552 tons
For each kilowatt hour of energy a data center consumes, it would need of water for cooling
2 liters
ABOUT EVERGY
Breaking down new wind and solar facilities
Collected by Willow Marable
THE SITUATION
In 2022, Evergy, the largest electric company in Kansas, announced plans to retire the Lawrence Energy Center (a coalpowered plant) by the end of 2023 and to exclusively add wind and solar facilities over the coming decade. A year later, Evergy released a new plan, which included delaying the retirement of the Lawrence Energy Center to 2028, delaying the construction of proposed solar to 2026 and adding two new natural gas plants.
THE EFFECT ON OUR COMMUNITY
20 premature deaths and 100 asthma attacks can be linked to Energy coal plants in Kansas per year.
According to a report by the Sierra Club
Kansas generates 50% more electricity than it consumes
According to the United States Energy Information Administration
THE EFFECT ON OUR ENVIRONMENT
Fracking for natural gas is known to contaminate drinking water, pollute the air and cause earthquakes. (Read more about fracking on pg. 6-7)
Natural gas plants produce natural gas leaks, which release methane into the atmosphere. Methane is a greenhouse gas that is 28 times more potent than the carbon dioxide released by coal plants.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, n
STAFFING FEDERAL
Budget cuts result in the layoffs of many
On Feb. 14, as part of an extensive budget cut, the Trump Administration directed numerous layoffs in the National Parks Service and U.S. Forest Service. According to The Guardian, 3,400 U.S. Forest Service employees were terminated, with an additional 1,000 National Parks Service employees ranging from park rangers and search and rescue crews to campsite monitors and trail crews being laid off.
Independent advocacy groups, such as the National Parks Conservation Association, have been quick to caution of the potential detrimental effects of these layoffs.
STAFFING CUTS HARM
Story by Jonah Frye
FEDERAL LAND WORKERS
many National Parks Service and United States Forest Service employees
Senior Ruby Walker, a frequent visitor to national parks, said her experience with the staff has been amazing. She remembers tour guides at Mammoth Cave National Park being knowledgeable and charismatic but, most importantly, equally as excited to be going in the caves as she was.
“I feel angry and worried. It’s so anxiety-inducing to think that the Trump administration is using its power like this,” Walker said. “Their motives are obvious: they want to profit off the land and have no regard for the sanctity of the earth.”
Because of concerns similar to Walker's, former and current employees have begun protesting. Many have taken to social media to express their disdain for the firings.
Additionally, former Yosemite National Park employees captured national attention by hanging an upside-down American flag on the side of El Capitan in protest of the layoffs. The display of the American Flag is traditionally a sign of “dire distress.”
While these protests have captured attention, AP Environmental Science teacher Julie Schwarting said change is going to be the product
of many people spreading information about a common issue.
“[Change] is going to take all of us coming together with a unified purpose, just like in the ‘70s when we started Earth Day,” Schwarting said. “It can happen again. We have to start looking at science because that's where we find out what is likely to happen.”
According to the NPCA, the National Parks Service is now able to reinstate 1,000 probationary employees at national parks across the country due to recent court orders.
Paradise Valley, Mount Rainier
National Park, WA
Photo by Elinor Russo
PRESERVING
Story by Eula Heriford
FOUR PRAIRIES
ourteen years ago, the Free State Prairie was founded by Environmental Science teacher Julie Schwarting and KU ecology specialist Dr. Helen Alexander. The prairie began as an experiment started by Schwarting, Alexander and students from KU and Free State, but is now used for a variety of things by numerous teachers and students. Today, the prairie is open to anybody interested in using it.
Schwarting has spent much of her life outside, and her mother worked in a state park during part of her childhood. She said this role her mother took inspired her to start up the prairie and encourage other kids to get outside.
“I’ve always spent a lot of time outside, and I can’t imagine not doing that. There’s such a sense of peace about being outside that I wanted to make sure that everybody had a chance to see what it was like,” Schwarting
said. “Even if you live in an apartment and your parents aren’t outdoorsy people, you should at least be able to experience that.”
With her passion for the prairie, Schwarting helped cultivate a space enjoyed by many students and teachers. Now, Schwarting is involved with making sure everybody knows about the resource.
“My role is just to make sure that it will be maintained over time, and make sure everybody knows it’s out there and go use it, because it’s a great resource,” Schwarting said. “It’s used for a lot of things, like Podrasky takes her students out there to take photos, and I know Ms. Cummings took her classes out there just to brainstorm about writing and poetry.”
Although Schwarting said the prairie has allowed various opportunities, maintenance has been challenging at times due to figuring out financing.
“The
prairie requires maintenance, and one of the things that maintains a prairie is fire. So we’ve, in the beginning, we were burning every year just to keep the invasive species from popping up and weedy species,” Schwarting said. “....So we’ve got to figure out a way that, either through the school district or the building grounds team, a way we can get that compensation [provided] to maintain it.”
Located behind the football field, the Free State Prairie is cared for by Environmental Science teacher Julie Schwarting and KU ecology specialist Dr. Helen Alexander. Photo by Amelia Wiles
The inspiration, benefits and upkeep behind the Free State prairie
Junior Noah Place has been using the prairie since freshman year, and was able to take advantage through experiments studying native plants and getting outside assistance from Professor Ben Sikes at KU. Over his time using the prairie, Place said he has felt very strongly about the benefits the prairie provides students.
“For me, the prairie has been an amazing resource and inspiration for the goal of ecology studies and understanding how important native plants are,” Place said. “It’s helped with the hands on approach of the basics of plant biology and identifying plant species… hands-on learning can be incredibly effective and useful for tactile learners like myself.”
SUNSHINES
AND TURBINES
Wind and solar power charge the Kansas power grid
KCollected by Logan Dinges
ansas winds are some of the most intense in the nation. According to an article published by Kansas Commerce, wind energy makes up about 41% of the energy generated in Kansas, the second largest of any state. In terms of solar power, Kansas is seeing an increasing number of proposals to build solar farms. However, proposals to build these plants are often met with criticism from the agricultural sector since they occupy large plots of farming land.
Despite this, Kansas still has a strong solar energy presence, as many corporations and educational institutions continue to prioritize research on solar energy.
MONARCH WATCH
BStory by Phoebe Morris
Local monarch research program is effected by new species classification
eginning around the second week of September, hundreds of monarch butterflies from Canada will migrate through Kansas to Mexico during the winter months. Monarch Watch, a local migration biology program, strives to focus on monarch butterfly research, education and conservation.
Since its founding in 1992, Monarch Watch has registered around 49,500 monarch butterflies for research tagging. Senior and long-time volunteer Julie Kong has participated in their tagging events.
“By tagging butterflies, we can track their migration, so sometimes you’ll tag all the way up from Canada, and then those monarchs will make it to Mexico. We can also track the distance that those butterflies travel,” Kong said.
However, Monarch Watch research project specialist Ann Ryan said they have noticed a decrease in population numbers since the 2014 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a monarch status review under the Endangered Species Act. In December 2024, 10 years later, the official report was announced and classified monarch butterflies as a threatened species.
“We have that community interaction with this insect. So [Fish and Wildlife] don’t necessarily want to restrict that, but they’re trying to see what rules they can come up with that will help the monarch but also allow people to still have that cultural interaction with the monarch species,” Ryan said.
Depending on what regulations Monarch Watch will have to follow, Ryan said this announcement creates an uncertain impact for conservation organizations. For example, if there becomes a restriction on the number of monarchs that can be researched, then their educational and research efforts could drastically change.
“Going forward, it could mean that we have to pivot some. It could mean that maybe we can do the same programs, but we just have to have different kinds of permits,” Ryan said.
In addition, rapid temperature changes across the nation have played a role in the program’s research. As Monarch Watch director Kristen Baum said, much of a monarch’s life cycle revolves around temperature.
“Their whole developmental period from egg to adult depends on temperature. And then if they move too far north, too early, they’ll be ahead of the planted milkweed, and their development will be slower,” Baum said.
“It’s amazing the number of organizations that have formed since that original petition in 2014. There’s something everybody can do, right?” Baum said. “Maybe you live in an apartment; you could have a nice patio that’s got nectar plants or you could participate in tagging.”
Coming up on May 10, Baum and Ryan said they invite the community to the annual Spring Open House fundraiser for Monarch Watch’s tagging and research opportunities.
“We’re inviting people in to see our space, see what we have in the lab. Also, [visitors] can tour the garden that will have caterpillars to pet. We’ll have the Douglas County Master Gardeners talk about the programs that they have, and then we’ll have plants to fundraise and benefit the program for all the local insects,” Ryan said.
As Baum continues to research how monarchs are affected by climate change, she said Monarch Watch asks community members to volunteer and support their research efforts.
ROOTED IN HEALTH
Organization Growing Food Growing Health provides produce for community
Story by Evie Chancy
Fifteen years ago, Growing Food Growing Health was established by Nancy O’Connor with the goal of strengthening the community and empowering young people through a local garden at West Middle School with local teenagers as the staff.
Because of her background as a nutrition educator, O’Connor said she saw that many young people lacked an understanding of where their food came from and why fresh produce is important, which she said leads to unhealthy eating habits.
“I saw with young people that there was kind of a disconnect with food and where it came from, and without that connection for understanding what food really means,” O’Connor said.
Senior Elinor Russo started working at the garden four years ago and said she keeps coming back because
she finds the work to be a highlight of her springs and summers.
“It’s been one of the most important things in my life,” Russo said. “Since I’ve started, I did not imagine that I would enjoy any job as much. It’s definitely helped me get outside of my comfort zone and be more willing to try new things.”
After several years of running the garden and selling produce, O’Connor said she realized as fresh produce became more expensive that just running the garden to sell produce wasn’t enough anymore. Nine years ago, Growing Food Growing Health moved to giving away produce, as O’Connor said the organization’s focus shifted more toward food justice.
“We recognized that we had the ability to grow this beautiful produce and teach youth how to grow it,” O’Connor said. “The piece that was missing was who got the food, and we wanted it to be the people who maybe needed it the most and who didn’t have access to it.”
For employees like junior Annah Steele, responsibilities expanded past taking care of the garden and growing fruits and vegetables to also manning the stand where community members can
take produce; which Steele said ultimately became her favorite part of the job.
“What I loved is that we could make real connections with the people that we gave to. It was face to face and you would get to know these people,” Steele said. “You could tell that they loved that we were there and you love to be there.”
To grow the nonprofit even more this year, Growing Food Growing Health is collaborating with the Ballard Center, a food bank in North Lawrence, so fresh produce is available any day of the week in the registered food desert.
“Connecting with other social service agencies in town like Just Food to make sure that we’re getting food to people who need it,” O’Connor said. “It’s all just part of our jobs because it’s the future for all of us.”
Cleaning out a raised bed at the West Middle School garden, junior Felix Mueller, senior Elinor Russo and junior Annah Steele complete one of the various garden preparation tasks at Growing Food Growing Health on March 10. Photo by Mallory Thompson
