After getting their hands dirty in Marshall’s Student Garden, Marshall University’s Sustainability Department will give away some of their fresh produce at a stand every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Memorial Student Center.

The stand began this Wednesday and some of the produce included tomatoes, green beans, squash, okra, eggplant and a variety of peppers. All of the produce is free, however donations are accepted.

All of the vegetables were grown on campus. The seeds of the produce were planted in the Marshall greenhouse near the science building. Once they were big enough to be moved and survive in a non-sterile environment, they were then transported to one of the eight raised gardening beds located behind the Career Services building. They grew there until they were ready to be harvested.

Eloise Spencer, a sophomore majoring in business management, said the stand is helpful to students who stay on campus and have a meal plan. She said it is a healthier and fresher alternative to the food from the dining hall, which has preservatives in it.

Also offered at the stand were a variety of plants called succulents, which are small houseplants that don’t need watered often because they store water in their plump leaves.

Angela Kargul, Sustainability Department lead gardener, said these houseplants are good for college students because they are simple to take care of, wonderful decorations, they help to purify the air in dorm rooms and they create a more calming environment when studying.

The produce stand is a part of an initiative by the Sustainability Department to make campus more green. They also suggest taking advantage of the Oasis Bottle Refill stations on campus, the Eco Cycle Bike Loan Program at the Rec Center, walking the Green Trail and volunteering at the garden.

Garden volunteer hours are Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Noah Gillispie can be contacted at [email protected].