For many, the advent of spring means one thing: it’s time to plant a garden. Consider planting Aggie Grown seedlings, a selection of non-GMO seedlings grown by Cameron University’s Aggie Club and Biology Club. Aggie Grown fruits, vegetables and herbs are available at the Lawton Farmer’s Market each Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Plants are priced at $5 each. Aggie Grown t-shirts and vinyl stickers are also available for purchase.
Gardeners can select from a variety of seedlings, from garden standards such as cherry tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, jalapeno peppers, eggplant, bell peppers and Roma tomatoes to slightly more “exotic” plants including bok choy, miniature corn and fennel. Herbs include basil, cilantro and chicory. Loofah and aloe vera plants are also available, as are butter crunch lettuce, Brussels sprouts, Swiss chard, celery, beets, serrano peppers, radishes and more. You’ll even find marigolds, a mainstay in gardens due to its pest-repelling properties.
In January, students involved in the two student organizations started more than 600 seedlings in CU’s campus greenhouses to launch the Aggie Grown initiative. They will use the proceeds to give back to the community.
“These clubs participate in a number of charitable drives throughout the year,” says Dr. Matt Van Sant, chair, Department of Agriculture, Biology and Health Sciences. “Last semester, they conducted both a food drive and a toy drive with great results.”
Toys were donated to local hospitals to make the stay more pleasant for young children and were also donated to the Lawton Police Department to carry in patrol vehicles to distribute during domestic dispute calls. Collected food was donated to Lawton Food Bank, and excess produce from CU’s greenhouses and community garden was donated to Meals on Wheels.
“Cameron University is proud of the dedicated students who have made the commitment to helping our community,” Van Sant says. “While you are at the Lawton Farmer’s Market, please stop by the Aggie Grown booth to see the results of the hard work these students have achieved.”
Plants can also be purchased directly from the Department of Agriculture, Biology and Health Sciences. For more information, call 580-581-2373.
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