- About the Exhibits
- Current Exhibit
- Reformation, Restoration, and Romeyn
- BLACK SPACE: Reading (and writing) Ourselves Into the Future
- Grassroots Activism and the American Wilderness
- Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
- We Want Books: Books For The Troops In World War Two
- Artists' Books: Where to put the apostrophe?
- John James Audubon's Magnificent Obsession
- National Wilderness Preservation Act 50th Anniversary
- Treasures and New Acquisitions: Favorites
- Humanities & Engineering @ Union
- Special Collections: Bigelow
- Special Collections: Treasures & New Acquisitions
- Literature in English 1713-1913
- Postcards of Jewish Women
- Special Collections: Dickens
- Special Collections: Darwin
- LGBT: A Library Perspective
- Locally Grown
- Look! Graphic Novels
Locally Grown: Schenectady & U.S. Gardening & Agriculture
On display from 2008 - 2010, by Courtney Seymour
According to The Encyclopedia of Union College History, Union College’s first vegetable garden may have been that of Professor Thomas McAuley (1805-1822). While at Union, McAuley lived at the north end of North College in what is now Bronner House, and the later, undated photograph seen here shows a view of where the garden may have originally stood. Isaac Jackson (Professor, 1831-1877) moved the plot in the early 1830s to make space for his flower and shrub garden, though his personal diaries provide evidence of continued vegetable plantings. Also shown here are pictures of a greenhouse that was once located in the North Colonnade courtyard, sheep grazing on “West Beach,” and “Cap’n Jackson” with his dog and horse, Cosine. Today’s vegetable garden, the Octopus’s Garden organic plot, is maintained by students, faculty and staff. Produce is donated to local soup kitchens, and is also used by Dining Services (the project’s sponsor) in the organic and local food eateries on campus, Ozone Café and Ozone Marketplace.
The ways in which we create, market, and consume food - bioengineering and our processed, fast-food culture, as examples - are matters for national debate and concern. Community, organic, and local gardening are viewed by some as sustainable solutions to the health and environmental impact of poor food choices.