The UIS Community Garden Club kicked off the semester on Friday, August 29, with an open event at the UIS Community Garden on Shepard Road. From 3 to 5 p.m., students and community members gathered to connect with nature, enjoy refreshments, and take part in gardening activities.

Led by Dr. Megan Styles, Associate Professor of Environmental Studies, the garden serves both as a student space and a community resource. Styles noted that the garden often donates produce to local food banks, though this year’s harvest has been challenged by wildlife. “We haven’t had good enough production to do that regularly because the groundhog ate the garden this year,” she said.

Despite setbacks, Styles emphasized that the garden remains open for everyone. “The garden is always open. You can always harvest the food. There’s no such thing as stealing,” she explained.

The garden began in 2014 as a project from Styles’ Introduction to Sustainability class, where students designed and built the space on a limited budget. “We did it all on a hope and a dream and very little money and we’re still here eleven years later,” Styles said.

The club meets every Friday during the growing season, offering snacks and drinks to encourage participation. Beyond harvesting, members work on weeding, crafts, painting, and garden upkeep. Harvest runs from April to October.

Styles encouraged all students to treat the space as their own while respecting its upkeep. “If you come to harvest, make sure that you shut the gate tightly. But otherwise, you know, this is your garden,” she said.

For more information, students can visit the UIS Connections page or contact Dr. Styles directly.