There’s more growth happening at Lone Star College-Fairbanks Center than just student enrollment and academic success and it’s in their community garden and outreach to Mission of Yahweh.

LSC-Fairbanks Center employees recently harvested 20 pounds of carrots, onions, radishes and strawberries from the community garden. Among those helping Kathy Hughes, biology professor, maintain and harvest the garden this semester were faculty and staff members Susie Hsieh, Tima Desai, Gail Kennedy  and Kelly Marsh as well as students Javier Ocampo and Margaret Ruiz.

“The community garden was built with a goal of harvesting the produce for area food banks,” said Hughes, who has a green thumb at home, too.  “It’s just another way to give back to the community.”

The 70-foot by 4-foot bed is located behind the southeast corner of the two-story building at 14955 Northwest Freeway. The garden also has room for community members to have their own plot.

LSC-Fairbanks Center students, faculty and staff helped plant basil, oregano, peppers, lettuce and tomatoes in the community garden first built in January 2008.

“Things we have grown successfully include carrots, potatoes, lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, cauliflower, beans, peas, strawberries, okra, onions, collards and plums,” said Hughes.
 
This recent May harvest was donated to Mission of Yahweh, a faith-based shelter, one of LSC-Fairbanks Center’s community partners. LSC-Fairbanks Center teamed up with Mission of Yahweh in 2007 offering the shelter residents one-on-one guidance and the chance to earn their GED or an occupational certification.

For information on the shelter, go to www.missionofyahweh.org. For information or to volunteer to help faculty and students maintain the community garden at the LSC-Fairbanks Center, call Hughes at 832.782.5063.