Julie Sullivan
Veggie Tales
New town-gown Community Garden encourages sustainable food options
Summer 2011 · Comment ·
When the first seeds sprouted in her plot in the Community Garden at UT Arlington, alumna Julie Sullivan, above, brought her granddaughter to help tend聽them.
鈥�She鈥檚 only 3, but she loves to help me water plants,鈥� the 1989 accounting graduate says.
The two are enjoying a bountiful harvest. Sullivan planted many things鈥攕quash, okra, lettuce, tomatoes, strawberries, cantaloupe. 鈥淚t鈥檚 surprising how much you can plant in each plot,鈥� she聽says.
Located in the northwest corner of the campus, the Community Garden opened in March and is a first-of-its-kind collaboration between UT Arlington and the city. With nearly 80 plots, a tool shed, picnic areas, a rainwater harvesting system, and plans to donate 50 percent of the produce, the garden brings people with a green thumb together while benefiting the community.
鈥�While the garden鈥檚 ultimate job is to produce healthy food, it also will surely instill a sense of ownership and philanthropy in those who care for it,鈥� says Bill Gilmore, assistant director of the Arlington Parks and Recreation Department. 鈥淚ts construction is another example of the city and UT Arlington鈥檚 commitment to building a vibrant downtown community in central Arlington.鈥�
For the gardeners it represents a chance to connect with others while doing something wholesome.
鈥�It鈥檚 a good way to get out in the sunshine and meet new people,鈥� Sullivan says, 鈥渁nd it鈥檚 interesting to talk to the other gardeners and see their gardening styles.鈥�
Apart from the sense of community, there鈥檚 also the pure pleasure of growing food from scratch. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great opportunity to grow some healthy fruits and vegetables鈥攐r at least try to,鈥� she says. 鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing like eating fresh vegetables from your own garden.鈥�