Irinia Peress/the Ithacan CHRISTOPHER STOKER, produce manager at Greenstar Co-op Market, arranges organic beets Friday in the store. Irinia Peress/the Ithacan STUDENTS ARE WORKING to start a campus organic garden.

The Ithaca College Environmental Society food group is willing to do some dirty work if that is what it takes to bring organic food to Ithaca College.

The nine members of the food group, led by freshman Kristina Plath, have been working on two campaigns since early last fall. The first campaign is simply to offer organic food in the dining halls. The second campaign is to establish a student-run organic garden on campus.

“We hope that eventually one will facilitate the other, that the organic garden will supply at least some amount of the food in the dining hall,” Plath said. “It would be one huge important step toward sustainability at Ithaca.”

Sustainability is an important concept in organic farming. It means using resources responsibly so they do not run out when you need them most.

Associate Professor Thomas Shevory, politics, is the adviser for the organic garden project. He said organic farming was characterized by the fact that it was less damaging to the environment.

“The main thing is you don’t use pesticides, and you don’t use fertilizer,” Shevory said.

Organic farmers depend on natural methods to control pests and grow healthy crops. Their case against pesticides and herbicides lies in the fact that it is impossible to control the effects of these chemicals. They spread beyond the land on which they were used and affect the whole watershed. Organic farming is also characterized by a connection to the food supply, senior Andrew Schwartz said. Schwartz is a member of the food group and has worked at WestHaven, the organic farm at EcoVillage.

“With organic farming, you’re not using any herbicide or pesticide, so you have to rip out all the weeds yourself,” Schwartz said. “It’s important for people to feel connected with where their food is coming from … and it’s important for people to know they can grow good, healthy, tasty food without destroying the land or shipping it across the world.”

Plath said the college already has almost everything it needs to produce an organic garden. Since the grounds department has the tools, all it needs to do is buy the seeds.

“We have one of the best compost facilities in the country, and we’re using it on ornamentals,” Plath said. “We could use it on food and help feed the students. I think that would be really meaningful.”

The food group prepared a presentation for Resource and Environmental Management Planning outlining why it thought an organic garden would be an asset for Ithaca College.

In addition to the environmental benefits, the group said the organic garden would have educational benefits. Plath said Ithaca has a very limited botany program, and experience working in the organic garden would supplement this area of students’ education. It would also help prepare students for growing their own gardens or working in agriculture.

The proposal also said the organic garden would connect Ithaca College with the community. Plath said volunteers from the community would be welcome to work in the garden and take home some produce in return for their work. She said she has received suggestions of ways to make the garden accessible to Longview residents, as well.

Thomas Salm, vice president for business and administrative affairs, was present at a REMP meeting. He passed the organic garden idea on to Sasaki Associates.

Ricardo Dumont of Sasaki Associates said he was looking into a few potential sites.

“When we come back in late February, we’re going to have options for where we recommend such a garden should go,” Dumont said.

He said the students would have to investigate the soil quality of each site as part of the process of determining which location would be best.

Salm said ultimately the decision lies with the college, including the administration and the board of trustees, since they will approve the master plan.

“It’s something I think we ought to be able to work out without too much difficulty,” Salm said. “It’s something that would be interesting to have.”