Campus & Community

Fresh Produce from Pete’s Giving Garden Now Available in Campus Food Pantries

Wednesday, August 26, 2020, By Kelly Homan Rodoski

A sign attached to a fence reads “Pete’s Giving Garden” and is decorated with drawings of vegetables and bees.

The summer’s beautiful weather has resulted in a bountiful harvest of produce from Pete’s Giving Garden on Syracuse University’s South Campus. That produce is now available for University and SUNY-ESF students in the Hendricks Chapel and South Campus food pantries.

Women with box of vegetables

Meg Lowe and Syeisha Byrd with a box of vegetables that they just harvested from Pete’s Giving Garden.

Staff from Hendricks Chapel and the Office of Sustainability Management, and faculty from nutrition and food studies in the Falk College worked together to care for the garden over the summer. At the end of April, they worked with Facilities Services to build a second raised bed and added a shed to store tools. In the beginning of May, staff members weeded, turned and added compost to the beds to prepare them for the seeds and seedlings. They also dug out the earth around the perimeter of the fence to provide more growing room for cherry tomatoes, herbs and future pollinator plants to support the honey bees on campus, says Syeisha Byrd, director of Hendricks Chapel’s Office of Engagement Programs.

“Although we are in the middle of a pandemic, it is important to continue to develop the garden so we can provide students with fresh, locally grown produce,” says Byrd. Produce now available includes acorn squash, eggplant, garlic, green beans, jalapeno peppers, tomatoes and zucchini.

The Hendricks Chapel pantry is located on the chapel’s lower level and is open Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to noon and Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. The South Campus food pantry is located at the Office of Sustainability Management in the Carriage House, 161 Farm Acre Road, and is open Tuesdays from noon to 4 p.m. and Fridays from 4 to 8 p.m.

Syeisha Byrd picks jalapeno peppers.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, protocols are in place for accessing the pantry to maintain safety and follow social distance guidelines. They include:

  • Bring your valid Syracuse University or SUNY-ESF I.D.
  • Face masks are required on the Syracuse University campus.
  • Use hand sanitizer to clean your hands.
  • Produce, toiletries and food will be bagged separately. There is no need to bring bags; they will be provided.
  • Each student may take one bag of food, fresh produce and personal care items. If you are looking for a specific item, ask for assistance.
  • If you would like to be added to the pantry listserv and receive emails about programming and new items, scan the QR code.

Byrd and sustainability coordinator Meg Lowe have planned an upcoming Zoom training on harvesting, weeding, watering and preparing the garden for winter on Thursday, Sept. 3,  at 7 p.m. ET. Students, faculty and staff who are interested in volunteering in Pete’s Giving Garden or in the food pantries may email Byrd at smbyrd@syr.edu. Volunteer slots are limited this semester.

Byrd and Lowe will also offer virtual cooking classes throughout the semester focused on how to use pantry and garden ingredients to create a meal.

Due to concerns surrounding COVID-19, Hendricks Chapel is requesting financial donations to the food pantries rather than physical donations. All are encouraged to donate to the Food Pantry Support Fund and the Syracuse Responds Fund, which directly supports students impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak.