Not only is food fundamental to human survival, but it forms a critical part of our culture, our community, and our connection to God’s creation. Because of this, eating sustainably represents one of the most important actions we can take in practicing environmental stewardship. Eating locally-produced foods, decreasing our meat consumption, and choosing naturally-grown and organic options are steps we can take that have a positive impact.
The Highlander Gardens aim to connect students and community members to sustainable food systems by producing sustainably-grown food right on our campus. Our gardens currently include a fruit orchard, an apiary, and a produce garden. In 2021 we also plan to add an herb garden near the Campus Center. Anyone interested in volunteering in one of the Highlander Gardens should contact the Center for Sustainability at creationcare@houghton.edu.
Highlander Produce Garden
The student-run Highlander Produce Garden provides sustainably grown vegetables for the dining hall during the summer and fall semester. The garden also provides hands-on work and volunteer opportunities for students interested in agriculture, home gardening, and sustainable living. Look for “campus grown” labels in the dining hall during summer and fall to enjoy the fruits of for students’ labor! Students interested in working the garden during the summer or school year should contact the Sustainability Director for more information.
Note: The produce garden was put on hold for 2020 due to Coronavirus concerns, but we look forward to re-launching in summer 2021.
Highlander Orchard
The Highlander Orchard provides free, organic fruit for Houghton students and community members to enjoy. The orchard features 79 trees including apple, pear, peach, and cherry. While most of the trees are still young, some have begun to bear fruit, and more is expected in the coming years. Please feel free to pick and enjoy our fruit when it is ripe. The orchard is located near the Nielsen parking lot and the outdoor tennis courts. A detailed map linked below shows where each variety of tree is located and tree dedications.
Highlander Apiary
The newest addition to the Highlander Garden—an apiary with three beehives—was made possible by a gift from the Class of 2020. The bees benefit the local ecosystem by pollinating wildflowers, nearby trees, and of course, the produce in our campus garden. After harvesting in the fall, we plan to serve the honey in the dining hall and sell it in the campus store. We also hope to expand our honey production each year by adding more hives to the Highlander Garden.