New garden planned to cure what ails you

A new medicinal garden on the wooded hill in between Hoosac Hall and the Shapiro House is being planned by interns. The interns are Max Dilthey, Kathy Lloyd, and Korinna Dennehey.

These students have tracked down plants, drawn up maps, created signage for the garden and are in charge of getting the word out on campus about the garden. Biology professor Emily Mooney received a grant last year from United Plant Savers, a group that protects native medicinal plant species in North America.

The medicinal garden will include herbs and other plants along a walking path for visitors. A number of the plants are endangered, such as the yellow lady slipper and black cohosh. Others, including true unicorn root and goldenseal, are at risk of threat. Plants such as the white snake root and sassafras are already found on our campus but will also be grown in the garden.

“Everything being planted in the new garden are plants native to this area that are known to have a wide range of healing and medicinal properties,” Dennehey said. The purpose of the garden is “to educate our community on an interesting, and largely unknown part of the local biodiversity,” she added.

The interns are hosting a volunteer day Saturday, April 21 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. to clean up the garden site in preparation for planting in May. Tasks include cleaning up trash and debris, weeding invasive plant species, and clearing the walking path. Lunch will be provided to those who volunteer. If you would like to help, RSVP by contacting either Korinna or Emily on FirstClass. Drop-ins are also welcome to those who do not RSVP.

Students, faculty and the surrounding community members are welcome to visit the garden from sunrise to sunset over the summer and into the fall semester.

by Amy Cubello
Staff Writer

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