Tucked behind Hamline-Midway’s Methodist Church, a soon-to-be garden lives under the care of students. Though many pass it by, likely noticing an excavator parked nearby, Hamline’s Microfarm has been quietly growing food for all students to harvest for over a decade.The student-led initiative is working to create a mini forest — a small-scale ecosystem that provides a variety of environmental benefits.“A mini forest creates habitat. It’s good for just making a green space on campus, which students want,” junior and one of the club leaders, Forestasia Aune, said.
What began as a small garden behind the church has grown into a space that supplies fresh produce not only to the campus Food Resource Center (FRC), but also to elders and youth in the Hamline-Midway community. It offers students an accessible and low stakes way to connect with the local community. Over the years, various community members, including the Hamline-Midway Coalition (HMC), have contributed to the farm in many ways.
HMC, for example, has planted trees in the microfarm. Valentine Cadieux, the faculty advisor for the Garden Club and professor in the Environmental and Climate Studies program, referenced a Washington Post article that included a tool to view tree coverage in local areas. When looking at Hamline-Midway, the tool revealed sparse tree coverage, which is an outcome of damage caused by invasive emerald ash borers.
“Hamline-Midway Coalition has been doing a ton of reforesting and getting people involved in community forestry,” Cadieux said.
As part of the reforesting effort, HMC planted trees in gravel to help develop stronger root systems and reduce the trauma caused by transplanting. However, since not all the trees were moved before winter, and because gravel does not retain heat well, they asked to temporarily plant some trees at the microfarm, where they could survive until next season.
The club also plans to establish a medicinal tea garden to foster a deeper connection to the land and acknowledge how it was used prior to settlement. To make this possible, they needed to expand, and the Hamline-Midway Church graciously allowed them to use some of their land to support this project of land recognition. The church has also helped with the excavation process to make the garden bigger and has been a huge supporter of this farm.
Sophomore and club leader Layla Stenson has always felt a close relationship with nature, something she attributes to her father, a landscaper. Because of this, she has grown to love nature and loves how she can apply her interest in science to it.
“I grew up around nature in a more intimate sense than I think a lot of city people do. That just has always been part of my life, and it just feels natural, doesn’t feel like work,” Stenson said.
Another exciting addition the club is exploring is growing fungi. Fungi play a key role in supporting soil health by providing nutrients and water. Mycelium, the root-like structure from which mushrooms grow, makes this possible.
“Mycelium also has the ability to decompose toxins in the soil like [heavy metals,] plastic, petroleum and radiation,” first-year transfer student Ajani Rowland said.
Beyond growing food, the Garden Club is growing a place of belonging and community. Though the club has only existed for a few months, they have really shown its hospitality to new and interested people.
“We love people. You are welcome to come back here. You can come back, not on a Wednesday and just check it out. This is a space for everybody,” Aune said.
Even if you may not have much history in nature, but you still love the idea of gardening or knowing where your food is coming from, they have weekly meetings on Wednesdays from 4 to 5:30 p.m. behind the church. You can also visit their website: Hamline University Sustainability or reach out to them if you have any questions at garden@hamline.edu.