Students expand LSU Community Garden during National Ag Week

By Annabelle Lang

April 20, 2023

LSU College of Agriculture student volunteers completed a service project to install six new raised garden beds at the Hill Farm Community Garden on campus. The service project, which aimed to expand the garden and provide more opportunities for students to learn about agriculture and gardening, was completed with the help of volunteers who assembled the beds, moved dirt, and ran irrigation lines.

The new garden beds will allow more students to engage with agriculture by growing vegetables and herbs on campus. Volunteers were asked to wear comfortable clothing that they could work in and meet at the Hill Farm, where Ag Student Association (ASA) representatives were available to guide them.

The project was part of LSU's annual Ag Week celebrations, which have always included a service component. LSU Student Government funded the project, and Dr. Kiki Fontenot played a pivotal role in helping plan and execute the addition of the six new garden beds.

"Service has always been a component of our annual Ag Week celebrations. I was thrilled when our Ag Student Association officer team pitched the idea of working with the Hill Farm Community Garden right here on campus," said Ashley Grant, advisor for ASA. "We are thankful to LSU Student Government for funding this service project and to Dr. Kiki Fontenot for helping us with the planning and execution of adding six new beds to the garden."

The success of the project is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the LSU College of Agriculture students and their collaborative efforts with volunteers and community partners.

Two students install metal garden container

LSU College of Agriculture student volunteers install six new raised garden beds at the Hill Farm Community Garden on campus as part of a service project for LSU Ag Week. Photo by Mimi Gianfala, LSU College of Agriculture.