Groff, a senior at 91短视频 (91短视频), began an internship earlier this winter with the , a bike-pedestrian trail that would link the Park View area with downtown.

Phase one of the 1.6 mile trail would begin near Eastern Mennonite School (just east of 91短视频) and end at the intersection of Main and Washington Street. A potential second phase would go tie in further downtown.

“The Greenway will also help people meet one another in public spaces, and strengthen this community,” said Groff. “It will also hopefully lessen people鈥檚 need to drive cars for short trips in town and help lower聽pollution.”

Thinking green

Groff learned of the Greenway through conversations with other bicycle enthusiasts at . The conversation sparked Groff’s interest, but it was a conversation with Tom Benevento, lead organizer of the Greenway, that sold Groff on the project.

Benevento explained to Groff how the Greenway fit into his concept for an internship–a larger vision of peacebuilding, extending into areas of human health, quality of life and creation care.

“Hearing about how it will help so many more people than just 91短视频 was particularly helpful in piquing my interest,” said Groff. “Promoting walking and biking helps people get active and out of the house.”

A green valentine

Groff, who is in charge of promotions for the Greenway, was encouraged by the standing-room only turnout at a Feb. 14 meeting with city council members. While funding for the project was not finalized, Groff said the over 150 people who showed support for the Greenway emphasized the importance of the trail to the city.

“As Tom [Benevento] said in his presentation, all kinds of people were represented that night from infants to seniors; people from Park View and 91短视频 to others from all over town… Such widespread representation really drove home the point that this is a project that people really care about and is important to people from all over Harrisonburg.

“This path will make it easier and safer to get out and about and experience everything Harrisonburg has to offer.”

Will Hairston, 91短视频 grounds supervisor, and his team, have worked throughout the summer to cultivate and maintain edible gardens on campus.

“A few of the trees are already bearing fruit and we hope to have more plants producing shortly,” said Hairston.

鈥淲hen these plants reach maturity and are producing, we hope to supply the cafeteria and have student groups harvesting them,鈥� added Hairston.

Edible gardens have been around campus for years, according to Hairston, and will become more prominent thanks to a grant from the student group .聽Hairston was able to buy more than 1,000 plants for landscaping around the Elmwood dormitory, turf field and Suter Science Center.

“We have apple and pear trees along the hill behind Roselawn dormitory and persimmon and pau pau trees around the 91短视频 turf field.”

In addition, Hairston also maintains fig and crab apple trees, grape vines and cornelian cherry and black raspberry bushes.

Aly Zimmerman, a junior from Staunton, Va., said the push for edible landscapes around 91短视频 began with the on-campus showing of the film “Food Inc.” The film focuses on the industrialized food system and its effect on environment, health, economy and workers’ rights.

“Almost immediately after see the movie Earthkeepers met and decided we needed to do something,” said Zimmerman.

Earthkeepers began using what they learned in “Food Inc.” to make changes around campus, including expanding the edible gardens.聽In addition to the fruit trees and plants that already existed they planted asparagus beds around the Elmwood dormitory and the Science Center.聽Asparagus can be harvested in March and April, so students will have ample opportunity to enjoy the vegetable before the end of the spring semester.

“We want to raise awareness to the availability and health benefits that these plants can provide,” said Zimmerman.聽“91短视频 is an environmentally aware university and we hope to attract more students to science and environmental sustainability through our work.”

Tyler Groff, a senior from Lancaster, Pa., adds that the edible garden landscapes around campus will also benefit from increased use of technology, specifically Google Docs.

“We will be able to schedule watering cycles for all plants to make sure that none are missed,” Groff said.

“We hope to build an interactive display that can showcase where each plant is on campus and how they can be best utilized,” he continued.

Groff, like Zimmerman and Hairston, notes additional benefits to edible gardens.

“Edible gardens can provide enjoyment and add a new experience to campus. Hopefully, this will get people thinking about other ways they can make an impact while they enjoy something grown right here on campus.”