A new hydroponic herb garden illuminates the main floor of USC.
Photo courtesy of Zariya Bankston
By Zariya Bankston
The University of South Florida St. Petersburg Student Government (SG) has installed a new hydroponic herb garden in the University Student Center.
“It was actually an old student government project,” said Natalia Powers, SG sustainability coordinator.
The project is meant to offer an easy alternative to growing herbs, as the vertical tower allows plants to grow without soil using a recycled flow of water.
Powers told The Crow’s Nest that as she helped empty the greenhouse in front of the Warehouse Lab (WHL) building, where the tower was found slightly damaged and collecting dust.
She saw an opportunity to restore the tower and put it up for use on campus.
Power’s motivation for the project was so that students could have an accessible way to collect free herbs at any time.
“If they want a little Oregano for their pizza, or some kale for their salad, I just want them to come take some… If we could get more [towers] up maybe in the residency buildings or in the nest that would be great,” she said.
USF St. Petersburg is known for its sustainability initiatives, with the hydroponic herb garden reinforcing the campus’ core values.
“The reason the hydroponic tower does that is because it is a more sustainable means of gardening, and it also just helps foster [that] culture of [caring] about nature and your environment…,” Powers said.
SG plans to incorporate more projects onto campus that help students indulge in more environmentally friendly habits while educating them on sustainability.
They also plan to host harvesting events with the tower soon.
