Students at the University of Tennessee who lack space to garden can now reserve a growing spot inside the Pendergrass Agriculture & Veterinary Medicine Library. The library opened its indoor hydroponic garden on the Knoxville campus Wednesday, letting students grow fruits, vegetables and herbs from seeds in the library’s collection.
Hydroponics grows plants in a water-based mineral solution instead of soil, according to The Daily Beacon. Students can take seeds from the Pendergrass Seed Library and reserve space in the garden; when full, the system can produce around 40 pounds of food, the student newspaper reported.
Bokeuim Yeom, the library’s public services and engagement librarian, said the project is intended to make growing plants more accessible. “We want to encourage people to grow their own plants,” Yeom said.
Built for Students Without a Backyard
The project reportedly took around three months to develop, with its grand opening in early November. The Daily Beacon reported that it received a grant through the Student Environmental Initiatives Fund (SEIF). UT’s Office of Sustainability describes SEIF as supporting sustainability-related projects that enhance campus operations; its public description does not specify the garden’s award amount…