Sick of digging through notes for finals? Try digging through dirt instead.
This week, the grounds department will host three dig-ins for weary students longing for a tangible activity. Hopefully, many students will be proudly displaying dirty fingers over the next week.
The first dig-in was held earlier today. Students planted perennials for an herb garden outside of Dascomb to beautify the entry commons near some new benches.
Another dig-in is planned for Monday from 1 to 3 p.m. at North. "We'll be drilling in a lot of daffodils," Grieve said. On Tuesday Harkness will be hosting a dig-in from noon to 2 p.m. where a native plant garden will be planted.
About 12 Harkness residents participated in designing the garden. A few had favorite plants that they wanted to include.
"I wanted to soften up the space outside of Harkness," Grieve said. "We came up with a nice little native plant garden. It's a neat process."
Grieve instituted the dig-ins last year to include students in the development of grounds.
Although Grieve gives a short talk before the gardening begins, he stressed that the dig-ins are mostly hands-on learning. "There's more doing and not a lot of talking," Grieve said.
Native plants and herb gardens are just a few of the types of gardens students have helped plant. Last year, Grieve included students in planting the underground railroad monument garden. "When we have themes, plants stand for ideas and enter into the educational experience of college," Grieve said. "And they're fun."
This year, the grounds department worked with resident coordinators to plan the dig-ins as study breaks during midterms. Grieve wanted to focus on residential areas because he feels their surroundings are poor compared to the more public areas.
"You see standards drop once we get into dorm areas. That's been one of my missions because that's where students live," Grieve said.
There aren't many opportunities for students to work on the grounds. Grieve said he had a few students do summer internships, but other than that, the dig-ins are one of the few chances students have to help.
Doughnuts, cider and student-designed t-shirts will be given to participants.
Copyright © 1998, The Oberlin Review.
Volume 127, Number 6, October 9, 1998
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