Growing a ‘culture of cultivation’ on campus

The Penn Park Orchard, located at the southeastern edge of campus, is home to fruit trees, herbs, perennial flowers, and more. (Photo: Cole Jadrosich/FRES)
By Katherine Unger Baillie

Across the University’s campus, from the Penn Student Garden in the west to the Penn Park Orchard in the east, and many places in between, edible plants dot the landscape. Facilities and Real Estate Services staff, charged with designing and managing the campus grounds, are working to augment and increase awareness of these spaces, which benefit the community on campus and in the surrounding neighborhoods in a variety of ways, from promoting good nutrition to encouraging sustainability and wellness.

“There is so much research showing that being in nature is good for your health, so that’s one aspect,” says Chloe Cerwinka, Penn’s landscape planner and Master of Environmental Studies student. “Then there’s nutrition, being able to access fresh fruit and produce right where you are. And there’s also the demonstration aspect of the garden and orchard, helping to teach people about how they can grow produce in their own yards and containers.”

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