We are busy as bees this summer with a variety of projects! One project that has been ongoing up to this point and keeping us dirty is rescuing all the plants from the areas around the buildings that will be under construction in the upcoming months. We moved plants from behind Memorial Hall and by the Low Mow area and moved them to the American Indian Resource Center. We also moved plants from the Laurel House into a rock garden we have named the “Rescue Garden.”

Another project that started this past semester is a sustainable fish house. The house would be equipped with solar electricity and solar hot air to power and heat the house. Our office is partnering with NTC to have students do the construction and the house would be available for students to rent through the Outdoor Program Center here at BSU. We are hoping to have this project complete by this fall so we can have it in the homecoming parade and ready for students to enjoy!

Gitigaan is always a fun project that we have done the past three summers. Gitigaan is Ojibwe for garden. Student, faculty and staff, as well as community members are able to rent a plot for the summer. There are 28 plots, all of which fill up fast each spring! Around the outer edge of the garden are plants that our office takes care of, but are free for anyone to take. This year we have potatoes, onions, lettuce, carrots and more available!

We are also in the beginning stages of planning for an outdoor classroom. The space would feature wooden benches from the white pines that were taken down next to the football field last summer. We are excited to get students outside to learn!

We will be keeping you updated about other events and projects going on here at BSU as well as the community! If you have any ideas or questions feel free to contact Erika at ebaileyjohnson@bemidjistate.edu or 218-755-2560.