Students participate in Dig-in

Students and faculty were invited to get down and dirty in front of South Hall this Tuesday for a campus-wide Dig-In.

The twelfth event of its kind, the Dig-In attracted about 50 enthusiastic helpers who put over 500 plants and bulbs into the soil. The Grounds Department and Residential Life sponsored the event, enticing passers-by with cookies, apple cider and commemorative t-shirts.

Participants will also be rewarded for their efforts next year when the area in front of South breaks into blooming trophies of King Alfred daffodils, Royal Opal asters and the black-eyed Susan.

Describing the process, Grounds Manager Dennis Grieve said, "First, the bulbs come up, then the perennials; flowering in a succession that will begin next spring and carry well into fall. Other plants to be seen next year include miscanthus grass, azaleas, Russian sage and Autumn Joy, which attracts butterflies." Additional areas that have benefited from Grieve's expertise include the native plant gardens near North Hall and Harkness, the Underground Railroad medicinal garden in front of Talcott, and the butterfly garden near Harvey House, which was planted during orientation activities two years ago.

While some students gingerly put trowel to ground, experiencing their first taste of gardening, others got to work right away. Some donned latex gloves and attempted to stay as neat as possible, while others became hopelessly covered in dirt. All, however, were infected by the enthusiasm of the event's coordinators. Beckoned by energetic calls to "Come and plant a bulb!" no passer-by was safe to cross South Lawn without lending a helping hand.

Area Coordinator, Kevin Williams, feels Dig-Ins help build a sense of pride for students and faculty and provide a feeling of ownership in the community. Apart from that, Graduate Assistant to Residential Life and Services Drew Tinnin thinks it's a great idea for Grounds and Res-Life to work together to provide an event like this for students.

"It just brightens up everything," said Jill Medina, referring to the medley of plants that have cropped up all over campus. An Oberlin graduate and present-day area coordinator, Medina remembers living in Barrows before the age of Dig-Ins.

"Kids don't know what it used to look like," she said, referring to the fact that a lack of plant variety once plagued the areas surrounding dormitories. Thanks to Dig-Ins and Grounds Facilities' continually innovative planting techniques, students now enjoy a lush and vivid campus. However, having attended every Dig-In since they began in 1987, Medina said, "[I wish] more people took advantage of the opportunity."

Down and dirty: First-years Anjali Blob and Chaz Mortimer, paused from thier frolic in the dirt to pose for a photo. (photo by Areca Treon)