University gets students gardening

University gets students gardening

It seems gardening hasn’t just come to schools – it’s making its way to universities as well, starting with the University of Newcastle which has announced a number of innovative projects to get its students gardening.

‘Grow your own’ brewery

The university has launched its own microbrewery in a disused barn on the campus, in which students will brew beer from raw materials, including hops and barley, grown in the campus allotment.

Grow and sell vegetables

Students are being encouraged to help grow organic vegetables in the University gardens, with the produce being sold back to their peers through campus shops. And a three-quarter acre orchard has been opened to be managed and maintained by undergraduates.

Apiary acquisitions

This commitment to gardening is not restricted to urban food growth. The acquisition of two apiaries will help students learn some of the principles of animal husbandry, and provide the necessary bees to help pollinate and propagate growth throughout the orchard, garden and allotments.

This focus on teaching students gardening will equip them with new and valuable skills, and provide an exciting new urban oasis in the centre of Newcastle. We at Genus Gardenwear will be following the progress of these projects with interest!


Gardeners' notes - what to do in April

Plant out potatoes Whether you’ve just purchased your potato tubers or you’ve had them chitting away for several weeks, now is the time to get them outside and into the...
Read More

Modern heroes of horticulture - Alexandra Campbell

Alexandra Campbell’s journey into horticulture began long before she ever put pen to paper.  Growing up as the daughter of a diplomat, moving home was a regular occurrence and she...
Read More

Exceptional trees - the Wood Wide Web

In recent years the ability of trees to ‘communicate’ with each other has been well documented.  Researchers have discovered  communication systems amongst trees and far from being passive organisms, it...
Read More