would lose an entire growing season.
approached Jay Linnehan, MCC's Executive Vice President, who
was very supportive and provided start-up funds for the garden.
MCC's Facilities Management Department helped to build the
raised planting bed, trucked in soil, and erected a fence around the
plot.
had to do over the summer was water, weed and wait. And, it was
worth it their first harvest was small, but satisfying.
Andover," said Sullivan, "but it's wonderful to put something in
the ground and leave it to the fate of the elements good or bad,"
she said. "If it doesn't rain, you have to get out here and water.
Hurricane Irene blew down some of our sunflowers," she added,
gesturing toward the gigantic beauties planted around the
perimeter of the garden. "At home, we just move our pots inside."
Nature would have in store. In July, something bashed through the
top of the metal fence and their pumpkin plants disappeared. "We
think it was an angry deer," said Gentile, laughing.
Gentile said their gorgeous red tomatoes were their pride and joy.
They also were especially pleased with their eggplant, herbs and
carrots. Sadly, the squash they planted never took off and was their
only major disappointment (besides the missing pumpkin plants).
the future. Next year, the group hopes to expand the size of the
garden and start plants from seed, using the greenhouse in
Professor Klein's biology lab.
the MCC cafeteria. "We want to use the college's natural
resources as much as possible," said Gentile.
constructed and their first crop planted on the Bedford campus.