Sunday, March 30, 2008

Chardin, the man, the garden

Pierre Tielhard de Chardin was a Jesuit priest, from France and for whom the residence hall is named. He was also a paleontologist and therefore it is somewhat fitting to have this garden in his name. Paleontology is the study of the forms of life existing in prehistoric or geologic times, as represented by the fossils of plants, animals, and other organisms. Gardening, through the soil, is very much a reflection of the lands' history. Soil quality can vary greatly in nutrients, ph level, composition, ground temperature, and bacteria and other organisms. There is a history behind how these things came about through millions of years. They also can change through what is planted in the soil and the nutrients that are put back. With an understanding of how soil works, it helps inform us to what plants work well in the Northwest.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

What it looked like before

The Chardin Garden is located between Logan field and the Chardin parking lot. Here is what it looked like before. The location was chosen because it's a level area with good sun exposure. It wasn't being used for much other than a patch of grass. It's an area that's visible to the public so everyone can see what grows.

Tilling the Soil


The garden is getting ready. On Tuesday we put down some rich compost and tilled the soil. On Friday, April 4 at 10 am we will be creating the beds for the garden. All are welcome to join.

Welcome to the Chardin Garden Blog

I love blogs and I love gardens, so I thought it would be fun to experiment with both. It is my hope that this blog with serve as a central source for information about the Chardin Garden as well as a way to document the garden's growth.

The Chardin Garden will be ready for the spring 2008. It is a joint venture between Chardin Hall and SU Grounds. Students can be responsible for a plot of land and learn first hand about food production. It's as much about the process as it is the end result.