Sustainability Spotlight: UW-Parkside Community Garden Expands Impact Through New Grant

The University of Wisconsin-Parkside's community garden expanded significantly in 2024, supported by funding from the Fund for Lake Michigan. The grant enabled improvements in stormwater management, biodiversity, and food security initiatives.

New additions in 2024 included more leasable plots, as well as a compost bin, cold frame, fruit tree orchard, and Monarch Waystation-certified pollinator garden, enhancing food production capabilities while supporting campus ecological diversity.

The grant created paid student positions, offering hands-on experience in sustainable urban agriculture and ecological restoration. Additionally, the Great Lakes Community Conservation Corps' Ag Veteran Program partnered with the garden, providing training opportunities for military veterans in agribusiness.

The garden reached a record harvest in 2024, producing 2,250 pounds of food. Donations were distributed to the Racine-Kenosha County Food Bank, campus events, and the UW-Parkside Food Security Committee's annual Food Giveaway, held in collaboration with the Shalom Center of Kenosha.

"We want to support growing interest in urban agriculture and foster hands-on learning in sustainable farming practices and environmental stewardship," said Dr. Julie Kinzelman, Visiting Lecturer (Sustainable Management) and garden manager.

Looking ahead, the garden plans to install a rainwater harvesting system for the hoophouse and experiment with cold-weather growing techniques as student employees prepare for the spring growing season.

Since its founding in 1968, the University of Wisconsin-Parkside has been a trusted partner for the region’s higher educational needs, empowering students to thrive, advancing applied knowledge, and developing talent for the future. The university offers undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as certificates and pre-professional programs, designed to foster personal and professional growth through real-world and impactful learning experiences. Located in the dynamic Chicago-Milwaukee corridor, UW-Parkside offers unmatched access to world-class internships, professional networks, and endless career-building opportunities, placing students at the center of it all.

Media contact:

Derek Fye
Communications Manager
University of Wisconsin-Parkside
Fye@uwp.edu | (262) 771-5419