By DOUG GRAVES
Ohio Correspondent

WILMINGTON, Ohio — The summer months on the campus at Wilmington College are quite serene, as the 1,678 full-time students have not yet arrived for fall classes. The only movement on these grounds lately have been squirrels chasing fallen walnuts.

But each evening, beginning at 6 p.m., weekend gardeners flock to the 40 small vegetable plots on the campus’ north side. For the second year the college has opened up 1.5 acres for public gardening.

“Last year we had 20 plots, this year we have 40,” said Randy Sarvis, public relations director at Wilmington College. “There’s been lots of interest in this gardening and it’s helped a lot of people. Largely, it’s good for families in the area that are unemployed or underemployed.”

Many Wilmington residents applied for the rights to maintain a garden plot, each measuring 4-by-12-feet. Forty residents were chosen. “People have shown a desire to learn how to do vegetable gardening and how to supplement their dinner table,” Sarvis said.

“We have 18.5 percent unemployment here in Wilmington. When our largest employer (DHL) closed its doors here, it affected roughly 10,000 people. DHL was the largest employer for Clinton County and four surrounding counties. That was the motivation factor for the college to conduct this sort of outreach.”

Wilmington College’s efforts are not just on campus. There is a similar community garden with seven beds on Mulberry Street in Wilmington. This location focuses on those living in apartments. In addition there are 15 backyard gardens in place, one greenhouse and three school gardens being tended.

“Our goal is to get a garden in as many family backyards as possible,” Sarvis said. “We aim to help as many as possible and get them as much food as possible.”

The Corp. for National Community Service funds the eight full-time AmeriCorps VISTA volunteers who assist with this program. Also involved are volunteers with Grow Food, Grow Hope.

The acreage used for the 40 plots were a gift of Hugh and Jean Highland. Both are deceased now, but before their death they willed five acres to Wilmington College, so long as the land was used for agricultural purposes.