Alabama State University News April 9, 2014 Students Break Ground on Historic New Campus Garden Students in Alabama State University's new Gifted Gardeners organization held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday, April 8 at the site of the University's first-ever urban garden. The garden, located in the Hornets Plaza behind ASU's National Center for the Study of Civil Rights and African-American Culture, will help teach students how to grow, harvest and eventually sell produce. Junior criminal justice major Brandon Price-Crum, founder and president of Gifted Gardeners, said the program is designed to teach students about agriculture and is built on three pillars: foundation, growth and sustainability. "This garden shows that students are very willing to participate in something that is positive and beneficial to them and the community as well," Price-Crum said. "We have 50 student members who were involved in planting our first seeds." The ASU garden is not just for University students. It also is open to the community. President Gwendolyn E. Boyd said the garden is another way of showing that ASU is a vital and important part of the Montgomery community. "This garden is an extension of Alabama State University. We are part of the community... it is real fruits, real vegetables, real things that affect real people; and so, it's more than just giving lip service to saying we are a part of the community, but actually being a part of the community and giving back," Boyd said. "We want to be connected to the soil here on campus and in the community." Freshman Ryan Jones said he joined Gifted Gardeners because he supports the group's goal of promoting healthy eating. "Gifted Gardeners will provide opportunities for its members, the community and the student body as a whole to expand our knowledge of planting, growing and eating foods that will be healthier for us," Jones said. "I'm very proud to be a member of this organization." John F. Knight Jr., executive vice president and chief operating officer, said it's good to see students taking the lead on something this important to the University and to the community. "This is outstanding... this is the students' idea. I think it sends a strong message in terms of them working with the community and also promoting healthy eating," Knight said. Boyd said the garden also will offer research opportunities for students. "A greenhouse will be developed, seeds will be planted, and there will be research conducted here," Boyd said. "So, it will be even more than just feeding the people in the neighborhood and the community, but also looking at new methods of research of how one seed will be able to feed thousands." Price-Crum said he is overwhelmed by the support he has received from ASU's leadership. "I am very encouraged to be a student at Alabama State University, because this garden shows that ASU gives you opportunities... they will support us in anything that we want to do," Price-Crum said. The students also partnered with Tuskegee University, which donated seeds and plants for the garden. For more information, email asugiftedgardners@gmail.com<mailto:asugiftedgardners@gmail.com>. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Register now http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/2014meeting-form.html for the October 26-28, 2014 HBCU Library Alliance 6th Membership Meeting in Atlanta GA!