Unbeknownst to much of the Ithaca College community, for the past year or so students Marlee Rutberg, Emma Hileman, and Taryn Hubbard have been conducting one of the coolest operations on campus: a giant, fully functioning, crop-producing, organic garden. If you're thinking "Oh, like the little garden out in front of Mac's?" I'm thinking in reply "Oh no, so much more epic".

Tucked away in a clearing behind the composting and recycling facilities (just off the little twisty road to Rogan's), the Organic Gardening Club has created a 40x40 foot plot packed with tomatoes, carrots, squashes, flowers, and the occasional baby rabbit. In it's incumbent year, the garden has been a roaring success, with crops beginning to be harvested as fall comes marching in. It's been a lot of work for everyone involved, but the rows and rows of healthy green veggies that are cropping up as the seasons begin to change are all the reward Taryn, Emma, and Marlee need for the many hours of work they put in this summer.

The garden in its early stages, courtesy Taryn Hubbard

As I'm sitting here mooching some of Taryn's salsa made from fresh, home grown tomatoes, I know I'll be down in the clearing behind the composting facility helping out at the next work day.

If you're interested in getting involved, shoot the organic garden an e-mail at gardenIC@gmail.com. I'm sure they'd love to hear from you.