ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥

VCARE has partnered with the ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Center for Research and Fellowships (CRF) to provide at least one fully funded ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ Undergraduate Research Fellowships (VURF) for their 2021 Summer Research Program. Students are encouraged to develop a research proposal detailing the scope of their proposed project, a description of the materials intended to be used in the garden, a detailed budget for the project, and a proposed schedule of the weekly maintenance to the garden plots throughout the course of the project. The garden is located behind the tennis courts near Driscoll Hall, and includes multiple 8’x4’x2’ raised beds, water access, and basic tools. Access to electricity is not currently available at the garden. VCARE recommends students visit the garden to determine the feasibility of the anticipated project before developing their proposals.

All students wishing to submit research garden proposals should apply through the regular VURF application portal, and should indicate a desire to apply for the named fellowship in their application. Though only one research garden project is guaranteed through the VURF named fellowship, the possibility of funding additional research garden projects through a regular VURF is possible.

Go to the for more information on how to apply.

For questions regarding the garden, please contact Liesel Schwarz, ÃÞ»¨ÌÇÖ±²¥ University's Sustainability Manager by email at liesel.schwarz@villanova.edu, or via phone at (610) 519-7988

Adam Langley, Assistant Professor Biology
adam.langley@villanova.edu

Chara Armon, Lawrence C Gallen Fellow in the Humanities
chara.armon@villanova.edu

Justinus Satrio, Associate Professor Cemical Engineering
justinus.satrio@villanova.edu

Peleg Kremer, Assistant Professor Geography and the Environment peleg.kremer@villanova.edu

Steve Goldsmith, Assistant Professor Geography and the Environment steven.goldsmith@villanova.edu

Vanessa Boschi, Professor Chemistry
vanessa.boschi@villanova.edu

• Perennial herb bed
  • Pollinator biodiversity
  • Biodiversity of insect visitors
• Agroecological permaculture
  • Impacts of natural fertilizers (compost tea, compost, etc)
• Compare water retention and the amount of water needed depending on different types of mulch (leaf mulch, grass clippings, cardboard, plastic, etc)
• Comparative natural pesticides to synthetic pesticides(such as squash or broccoli sensitive to pests)
• Local indigenous tribes’ indigenous plants:
  • Are the seeds available?
  • Can they be grown?
  • Do we know how?
• Heirloom seeds vs Hybridized seeds
• Ecological and preference of pollinators to native flower structures
• Urban heat island effect
  • Simulate garden as rural/suburban, somewhere else on campus replicate the heat island in urban, see how bloom times, yields, nutrition are impacted (additional space would be required – or partner with an urban garden somewhere else)
• Cost effective ways of extending the seasons (plastic covers, hoop houses, etc)
• Projected extreme weather events on nutritional value, growth, yields, overall success
  • Using CO2 chambers to increase CO2 levels and investigate the impacts of increased levels
  • See related article: https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/05/140507-crops-nutrition-climate-change-carbon-dioxide-science/
• Runoff mitigation
  • Do raised beds help with decreasing runoff?
• Maximize crops within a bed
  • Square foot garden and successional beds to maximize production
• Companion planting (tomato and basil, three sisters)
  • Compare how companion plants success vs monocrop or non-polycultures
  • Explore other relationships
• Exploring general benefits of gardens and raised beds (pests control, even negative relationships, what can/cannot be planted together, etc)
• Theological/ Humanities ideas
  • Qualitative research through interviews about the benefits of having an on-campus garden
  • Interview to those involved with the garden (mental, wellbeing benefits)