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Students, faculty, and staff rolled up their sleeves to support the Ivy Tech Indianapolis campus garden during the Soil, Sweat, & Suds Community Garden Service Project, organized by members of (PTK).

Led by PTK President Matthew Lum, the service project invited the entire campus community to help prepare the garden for the upcoming growing season while also strengthening connections across campus.

“The Soil, Sweat, & Suds project is more than just a community initiative to revitalize our campus garden; it is an opportunity for the campus community to come together, get to know one another, and work toward a common goal,” Lum said. “As one of the largest and most active student groups on campus, PTK felt inspired to lead this effort to help provide better resources for our campus and its students.”

Volunteers focused on the essential prep work needed to set the garden up for success later in the season. Activities included cleaning and repairing garden beds, clearing weeds to prepare the soil, and organizing garden tools for future use. While planting will begin in April, participants were rewarded for their hard work with ice-cold root beer—the “suds” portion of the event’s name.

The event was intentionally open to the entire campus community, reflecting PTK’s belief that shared spaces are strongest when everyone feels invited to participate.

“Opening it up allows for more exposure for the garden and PTK’s mission going forward, ensuring that as many people as possible feel ownership over this shared space,” Lum explained.

Beyond preparing the garden, Lum hopes the project leaves a lasting impact on campus culture.

“Experiences like this are essential because they provide opportunities to get to know people outside of a traditional academic setting. It allows students, faculty, and staff to do something good for others while also doing something rewarding for themselves. It builds a stronger, more connected campus culture,” Lum said. 

_{Pictured above: Matthew Lum (left) poses with PTK advisor and ENG 111 professor Carrie Sample (right).}

See photos from the Soil, Sweat, & Suds Community Garden Service Project below.

Student Life will be hosting "Rock It Out Gardening," another campus garden service project, on April 27 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. More information will be posted to as it becomes available.