UMass sustainable garden group vying for recognition at the White House
As a graduate student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Ryan Harb helped lead the charge to develop a sustainable, low-maintenance garden to supply a dining hall with fruits, nuts, vegetables, and greens. Now, about two years later, Harb and the UMass Permaculture Committee could be headed to the White House.
The UMass group, which now oversees two environmentally-friendly gardens on campus, was selected as a finalist out of more than 1,400 entries in the White House Campus Champions of Change Challenge. Of the 15 finalists, five will be selected through an online vote to visit the White House and host an episode of mtvU’s show “The Dean’s List.’’
“We’d love to get number one, but the top five is really what we’re shooting for,’’ said Harb, who now works for the university as a sustainability manager. “There aren’t many universities doing permaculture landscaping. UMass is one of the first in the nation to be growing vegetables for use in the dining commons.’’
Permaculture landscaping, Harb said, is “a vision for creating a more sustainable world. It involves people working together to care for the planet.’’ He said permaculture, an ecological design system, calls for creating gardens and buildings in a low-impact, environmentally sound way.
Voting for the top five ends at 11:59 p.m. Saturday. To vote for any of the groups, which range from the UMass gardens to a program providing bagged lunches for children in low-income neighborhoods, visit www.campuschallenge.uservoice.com.
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