Evaluating the Long-term Sustainability of L.O.G.I.C.: The Student Organic Garden at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

• Main Author: Williams, Laura
• Format: Others
• Published: OpenSIUC 2012
• Subjects: Campus gardens; Campus sustainability; Student initiatives; Student led gardens
• Online Access: https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/theses/1010; https://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2018&context=theses

Campus sustainability and sustainable food production at universities across the nation are gaining in popularity, and student led gardens are an important and distinctive part of this movement. Student initiatives at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) have led to the creation of a Sustainability Council and Green Fund which has provided a tremendous amount of support for the student led organic garden (LOGIC) on SIUC's campus. The purpose of this research was to provide a thorough, evaluative case study of the campus garden at SIUC in order to explore its past, its current structure and resources, and to suggest a model for its future. Through student surveys and qualitative interviews with key experts it was found that a paid garden manger position, consistent funding, more production, more volunteers, more awareness, and a critical look at current goals and practices were needed for LOGIC's continued success.