A grand re-opening ceremony will be held at the newly renovated Common Ground garden at Chattanooga State Community College on Friday, April 20, at 2 p.m. The revamped garden has 34 raised beds, with gravel walkways in between, a fully automated watering system, three supply bins, and a new wooden tool shed.
In the interest of promoting campus and community-wide inclusion, educating the community on sustainability, and following in the footsteps of existing garden programs at other colleges, the Global Scholars at Chattanooga State came together to create the original garden on Chattanooga State's campus in 2016. The garden is called The Common Ground to reflect that this space is one for all to come together.
Included among the opportunities for the campus and community are an outdoor classroom space to teach across the disciplines and a service learning garden for TN Promise students to earn required volunteer hours to maintain their scholarship eligibility. The garden also supports the need for fresh, local, organic produce for use in the Michael P. Hennen Hospitality and Culinary Center and bee-attracting flowers in support of Chattanooga State as a bee-friendly campus. The Common Ground is endorsed by the Chattanooga Area Food Bank who benefits from the locally raised produce.
While the Global Scholars provided the leadership and oversight of designing and creating The Common Ground garden, the garden is now shared across the campus and maintained solely by students, faculty, and staff. Each of the raised beds is sponsored by various classes and campus organizations who will maintain their own beds – including planting, weeding, and harvesting - within the garden.
For more information on The Common Ground or the grand re-opening ceremony, contact Shawn Brabham at shawn.brabham@chattanoogastate.edu.