Written by Sophie Leopold, photos by Kendra Frankle
This spring, the SCAD mascot became physically embodied through thousands of honeybees. The bees live in the apiary of the Back40 Garden, the university’s new endeavor in sustainable agriculture. Just across the river from SCAD’s Athletic Complex, Back40 is now home to an organic garden and honey apiary. The garden plans to provide students with an outlet for seasonal food cycles and innovative cultivation.
Garden coordinator, Jody Elizabeth Trumbull [assistant to President Wallace] wears many hats. Now most recently, a beekeeping suit. On Friday, Trumbull invited SCAD SERVE, in honor of Global Youth Service Day, for the first taste of Back40. Participants experienced an afternoon in the sunshine to learn about pollination and securing food conservation. The hands-on tour introduced urban farming: a method that utilizes limited space and or alternative means of growth.
“[Back40 is] not just a folly, food security is designed to be productive for the community,” Trumbull said.
Working in partnership with America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia, half of the garden’s yield is donated to the local food bank. Students enjoy the remaining produce at SCAD dining venues across campus.
Trumbull is enthusiastic about promoting a variety of crops in the garden. Back40 makes the most of compact space by under farming and companion planting. These practices supplement vegetable beds with useful, blooming plants. They can take the form of herbs, such as basil, or edible flowers like nasturtiums. Ornamental beds of colorful florals and citrus trees create a haven of cross-pollination for the bees.
Back40 uses only natural growing methods, with an organic certification currently in progress. Spray pesticides are not allowed on the premise in order to ensure the garden’s bounty is always food safe. This consideration extends to the honey making process, which is purified to Kosher and Halal standards.
Food conservation and preserving the local heritage, are vital principles at Back40. Carolina Gold Rice, for example, is a crop unique to the area. The grain harks back to Georgia’s early agricultural tradition of marshland rice paddies.
Although Trumbull invested safe and prosperous harvests, she’s equally dedicated to giving everyone the opportunity for involvement in the magic of Back40. Ergonomic tools are offered to meet a range of abilities, and a swivel seat removes barriers for the wheelchair bound.
While the garden is up and running, the finer details of student access are still being sorted. In the meantime, Trumbull is welcoming research appointments by email at jemeott@scad.edu. Stay tuned with District as the story of Back40 continues to bloom.
For more information visit the Back40 website.
