The Auburn community gardens are a new way for students, faculty and the local community to grow their own produce, save money and eat healthier.
Robert Davis, president of the Auburn Real Food Challenge, said the community gardens just fell under the management of the ARFC with the help of Paul Patterson and the College of Agriculture getting them started this year.
"The community gardens are about 900-square-foot plots of land on University property where students, faculty and community members can rent space to grow food for themselves," Davis said.
The rental price for a plot from April to November is $25 for students, $40 for faculty and $50 for the public.
Davis said this fee includes irrigation and preparation of the land each planting season.
Jaimen Perez, community gardens plot manager, said renters only have to provide seeds or plants and labor.
Perez said he's received an influx of emails in the past few days from people interested in renting plots.
"We are almost sold out of plots already," he said.
Davis said the money goes to ARFC and its projects.
"We plan to continue doing this in the future and also offer a winter growing season in years to come," Davis said.
Upon rental, gardeners must sign a contract agreeing to "clear off their plot at the end of the season and use ecologically sound gardening practices," Davis said. "We also ask that our gardeners do not use plastic lining in their plots to combat weeds as this product is difficult to remove and portions of it often wind up mulched into the soil."
Other than these requirements, Perez said there are no limits on pesticides or herbicides and that the plots are open around the clock.
Perez said the ARFC would like more people to get involved.
"The goal is to increase people using real foods, especially students," he said. "We're really pleased that we're seeing a lot of student involvement."
The ARFC is a University organization that was started in 2011 and which seeks to bring more real food to the community, and Davis said the group is excited to be a part of the community gardens.
"Community is at the core of all our efforts in the food movement," Davis said. "There are tons of ways gardening positively impacts communities. It's a great way to learn, get outside, meet your neighbors, save money, eat well, share and even make money."
Anyone interested in renting a plot or learning more about the ARFC and the community gardens can contact Perez at jpp0006@tigermail.auburn.edu or visit the ARFC website at http://auburnrealfoodchallenge.weebly.com/.
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