University offers garden-grown food

Sustainability Department is hosting its Wednesday Fresh Market each week from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Memorial Student Center.

The market offers fresh produce grown from the numerous gardens located around Marshall's campus.

Sustainability Education Coordinator Capri Billings said the market is a valuable service that Marshall offers its students.

"There are so many reasons why having something like this available on campus is important," Billings said. "Obviously, to promote good health and fresh eating, but what we are also doing here is supporting urban agriculture. The market helps improve access to fresh local produce on campus, something a lot of college students would otherwise not have."

The produce at the market is available for the university's students, faculty and staff at no charge between April and October. However, donations are accepted.

Sustainability Department Manager Margie Phillips said the gardens are funded by the Student Green Fee.

"Every student has that fee in their tuition," Phillips said. "It's only $5, and it's making such a positive impact on this campus."

The fee was proposed and adopted by students in 2008.

The first sustainability garden, the Student Garden, was installed in 2011. There are now four more gardens located around campus: the Rain Garden, the Rooftop Garden, the Monarch Waystation Garden and the Butterfly Garden.