DANBURY, CONN. — Whole Foods Market in Danbury will donate five percent (5%) of its sales on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014, to Western Connecticut State University in support of its permaculture garden project. Qualifying purchases must be made from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sept. 16.

The seeds were planted to start a garden initiative after the Jane Goodall Center (JGC) at WCSU hosted a visit from Ryan Harb, who successfully launched a similar effort on the campus of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. The JGC plans to begin with one on the WCSU Midtown campus and grow from there.

It is expected that the ground will be prepped during the fall semester with planting to take place in spring 2015. The main garden will be planted in a space designated near the Science Building, originally intended for such use. There are plans to maintain large permanent planters around campus that can be filled with a combination of flora and edible plants, with a goal of planting additional gardens on the Westside campus as the permaculture initiative grows.

Sodexo, the university’s food service provider, is lending its support since the garden ultimately will provide fresh produce and herbs for use in dining hall menu offerings.

The project is being cultivated by the JGC and a Garden Advisory Board led by WCSU Professor of Anthropology Dr. Laurie Weinstein, faculty, staff, local businesses and organizations. Harb and Bill Bean, both certified permaculture garden designers, are acting as consultants with strategy, design and implementation plans.

While a student at UMass Amherst, Harb was responsible for launching the nationally recognized permaculture garden program at the university and was presented with a Champions of Change award from President Barack Obama. “The UMass garden earned eight national awards in its first 18 months and has been a tremendous drawing point for the school,” Harb said.

According to Weinstein, the garden is a grassroots effort of the JGC in conjunction with the university’s Roots & Shoots club. Roots & Shoots is a program that was founded by Goodall herself and has been an award-winning club at WCSU for nearly 20 years.

“It is important for our students to get back in touch with nature; to learn more about the foods they eat; and to spend time initiating positive change for themselves, their fellow students and members of the community,” Weinstein said. “It is our aim to use the campus garden as a wellspring for personal growth and educational opportunities.”

The university presently offers a senior-level course, “Sociology 400 – Root & Shoots,” which will focus on the garden environs. Plans are also in place for it to be used as a learning environment for biology and other science courses as well. The Ancell School of Business is interested in having an entrepreneurship class utilize the garden as a teaching tool. In addition, the garden will also serve as a backdrop for lectures, events and university tours.

For more information, contact the Office of University Relations at (203) 837-8486.

Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England’s best small private universities.