Foothill Community College is a place where dreams come true, but that requires work and oftentimes can lead to stress. Nurturing our minds, bodies, and souls is a very important part to achieve success in academia. Different college students and alumni gave their thoughts regarding why they believe that Gardening, conservation, and Ecology matter in Foothill’s Culture.
Past Co-President of the Conservation and Ecology Club, Deewie Lhene Peñaflor, a Filipina woman, is now pursuing a nursing degree at USF, and takes with her gardening knowledge and enthusiasm of Conservation and Ecology.
Q: When did your love for gardening begin?
A: Growing up in the Philippines, my dad would make me garden and pull all the weeds in the front yard. I’m very fond of those early childhood memories. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I started a small business with my partner centered on indoor gardening. We were all in and had more than 100 plants–it was also a chance to be part of the San Diego small business community. Unfortunately, we had to let go of the business when I was diagnosed with carpal tunnel and had surgery. After years away from gardening and relocating to San Jose, my partner and I decided to reconnect with nature by starting our own home garden. We fell in love with the idea of growing what we eat. Over time, we invited our friends to garden with us, shared our passion for the great outdoors, and began inviting others in the Foothill College community to join in.
Q What does gardening give you that other activities don’t?
A: Sunshine and staying in the moment. With the constant overstimulation and overwhelmingness from social media and responsibilities, I began to lose track of time. This is usually referred to as time blindness. Now that I’m more in tune with the seasons changing, since gardening is greatly affected by changes in climate, I’m constantly thinking about time as it relates to nature. Sometimes, I’m like … Oh wow! It’s already February–we need to start thinking about what seeds to start for the spring season. This awareness helps life be more meaningful instead of passing by in one blur.
When we first started gardening, I was in a very dark period of my life, and having a simple, labor-intensive activity that required movement, time under the sun, and looking ahead helped me break out of this negative mindset, stay in the present moment, and regain my hope for a better tomorrow. Just like a small seed or dormant plant, you need to have faith, water the soil daily, and it won’t look like anything at first. But after a few days or even weeks, the seed or plant will grow and, over time, provide us with food and healing. This was a great reminder that there are times when we need to rest and lie dormant. There are also times when we are ready to bloom. I just think the whole process is very beautiful and rewarding.
Q: Do you think Foothill should expand its community garden or edible landscaping? Why or why not?
A: Absolutely, I jokingly always say that people need to go outside and touch grass, but I’m genuinely serious about that, unless you have some sort of allergy to pollen, sun exposure, or whatever else. Every single time I get the opportunity to invite more people to join in, they enjoy the activity more than they expect, and the movement grows larger–it’s honestly contagious. I’ve been pleasantly surprised to learn that many folks are beginning to look into gardening and conservation on their own time and find volunteer opportunities/start groups of their own volition. It’s quite addictive, and what better addiction is there than one that helps us create a happier, healthier, and greener tomorrow and build stronger communities?
Q: So tell me more about how you found out that other people were just as addicted to gardening as you. How did these conversations start?
A: Through gardening, I’ve had many moments with friends and family where we had the chance to slow down and check in through such an intentional and at times physically demanding activity.
I’ve sent multiple friends who want to grow their own food, some vegetable seeds, and now they’re all building their own edible urban gardens. They’re constantly sending me updates of crops that are growing and flowering. People check in with me more often because they have gardening questions or want to see how things are growing for the season. It’s a natural way to keep conversation flowing and people more closely connected. In terms of people getting hooked, my partner really hated gardening at first because it took up so much of my time, but now she’s leading Foothill’s Conservation and Ecology Club.
Many students at Foothill College who weren’t familiar with gardening or outdoor activities went on to join internships and conservation volunteer opportunities, or even transfer to universities for conservation/ecology fields of study—all because they gave gardening a shot, and came with a curious mind and open heart. Inviting people to try out gardening and get involved in conservation efforts has been a successful and organic opportunity to spread joy and awareness.
Hannah Miradi, a past officer of the Foothill Conservation and Ecology Club, graduated last spring with an associate’s degree in Geospatial Information Systems Technology. She joined the club without knowing anything about gardening, but left with a big passion for nature and ended up joining a few internships in conservation.
Q: Why did you choose to participate in gardening or conservation and ecology events?
A: I’ve always been interested in conservation through ecology, and was initially dissatisfied with how Foothill was lacking in ecology-related clubs. I have also always been interested in gardening, but have never had a garden to work in!
Q: What does gardening give you that other activities don’t?
A: I love how gardening intersects science and physical labor. I think gardening provides a unique opportunity to do something physical while also learning.
Emma Smith, a current Officer at the Foothill Conservation and Ecology club, is passionate about education.
Q: Why do you choose to participate in gardening or conservation and ecology events?
A: I choose to participate in gardening, conservation, and ecology events because of how they make me feel, who I meet, and what I learn. The repetitive nature and light physical activity involved in many of these community activities contribute to reducing my anxiety and stress. These events are grounded in positive values, as they often teach valuable skills that increase environmental literacy and promote sustainable practices, which in turn, benefit others and deepen our connection to the world. Because of this, they build a community by attracting individuals who share these same values and diverse prior knowledge. It’s the community and the people I meet that make it feel special.
Q: What does gardening give you that other activities don’t?
A: Unlike most other activities, gardening provides a unique balance of these benefits through its particular structure. While other activities may offer similar benefits in different ways, gardening is an incredibly accessible activity, especially given its prominence in everyday life.
Q: Do you think Foothill should expand its community garden or edible landscaping? Why or why not?
A: Yes, I do think that Foothill should expand its community garden or edible landscaping, because increasing space would increase the benefits, outreach, and influence in our college community, as well as open up more opportunities that we wouldn’t have otherwise.
Jacqueline Hernandez, working on her business degree, is the Officer and Media director at Foothill Conservation and Ecology Club.
Q: Why do you choose to participate in gardening or conservation and ecology events?
A: Taking any action, no matter how small, still counts as a collective effort, and I wanted to do my part and show off the little green thumb I have, but also continue learning!
Q: What does gardening give you that other activities don’t?
A: To me, gardening brings a lot more hands-on learning, especially from workshops, rather than in a verbal learning setting, for example, a presentation in class.
Q: Do you think Foothill should expand its community garden or edible landscaping? Why or why not?
A: Yes! I am all for community action and through organizing and a willingness to see change, [we can] see more participation and true growth in our adapting community garden here on Ohlone land. It’s always great to be able to see the physical fruits of our labor!
Arwyn Lucich, a biology major and a current member of the Foothill Conservation and Ecology Club, has been active since last quarter and used to be our treasurer.
Q: Why do you choose to participate in gardening or conservation and ecology events?
A: I choose to participate in conservation and ecology because I love nature, and I love feeling like I am actually making an impact. A lot of work takes place through computers these days. This work still has an impact, but for me it isn’t nearly as satisfying as actually getting your hands in the dirt and seeing the impact your work has in the physical world.
Q: What does gardening give you that other activities don’t?
A: Gardening is not something I often do. But I like it because it gives me direct control over my own resources. You can grow your own food and be sustainable. Or you can grow a native habitat garden and see how the wildlife enjoy it.
Q: Do you think Foothill should expand its community garden or edible landscaping? Why or why not?
A: I believe that if Foothill has the space and resources, it should expand its community garden. Having a way for students to harvest food can ease financial burdens and connect people to nature. Even if students aren’t harvesting the food directly, giving the food pantry on campus access to cheaper or even free food is always a good cause.
A big thank you to everyone who has participated in the Community Garden and Foothills Conservation and Ecology Club. This is all a group effort, and without all of you, we would not have been able to do what has been done today.