Over 40 volunteers have worked to create a productive and thriving organic garden at the Environmental Park on the Manhattanville College campus. The garden started in March has made significant progress over the past few months. In fact, ten pounds of kale and five pounds of green beans have already been donated to the Food Bank of Westchester. And some nights you can find the fresh produce in the campus cafeteria.

"Making these donations is appealing because not only are people growing the vegetables, but they are seeing them go to a good cause as well," Professor Christopher Pappas, who originally started the garden with just a few student volunteers from his classes, said.

Those involved in working with the community garden have been positively affected in other ways as well. Students are able to register for 4th Credit Option through the Duchesne Center for their work in the garden. Also more than one class is utilizing the garden in its curriculum. For Patrick Seabaugh it opened his eyes to what he wants to do with his future.

"After working with the garden I finally decided to be an Environmental Studies major," Seabaugh said. "After living on campus this summer and working in the garden weekly, I learned that it was something I truly want to explore further."

The garden has two beds, one used for the Food Bank and one for the Manhattanville Community. In the next month, the Garden Group, as the volunteers are called, plan to expand the garden to four beds. Pappas would love to see the garden grow to nine beds eventually.