The Nature’s Finest Club makes its way onto campus intending for students and staff to create an organic garden and plant whatever it is they desire to grow.
The club was created and established originally at Moorpark High School just last year by current Moorpark College Student Payton Robinson, 18-year-old civil engineering and philosophy major.
“Everyone will have the opportunity to rent a garden plot and be able to grow fruits, vegetables, flowers, herbs, you name it,” said Robinson.
The garden is to be located on the hillside by the campus golf driving range and will be 62,500 square feet consisting of 48 20-by-20 square feet plots and 25 25-by-20 square feet plots, according to Robinson.
The plots will be divided up by categories such as plants, fruits, and vegetables with a long with a sanctuary in the middle of it all. The sanctuary will serve as a study or relaxation space for students to wind-down or prepare before their next class.
“The project, the vision, isn’t necessarily having a student garden,” said Robinson. “It’s creating a student environment for the club members and for all the people who rent the plots to have an area where they can have peace and study in nature.”
Nature’s Finest Club is hoping for at least 30 solid members and, though it’s a club that is creating itself slowly, whoever joins will have the opportunity to learn first-hand the basics of gardening.
“The goal is to create the club base first, which is what we’re doing,” said Robinson. “After the club is created and we have solid group of members, once we become a family, then it’s time to move on to our project.”
Once the garden starts to further develop, students and staff members will be expected to be responsible for maintaining their own plots as well as the entire garden itself.
“We had that idea to rent the plots out, but we really don’t want to charge students,” said Robinson. “So the plots will not cost the students a dime, they will each sign an agreement that promises they will take care of land given.”
Robinson remarked that this project is meant to help students on campus grow and improve. Having a paid system involved would inhibit that.
“We all came to the understanding that we want to help the students as much as possible; asking for money would be no help,” Robinson said.
Robinson is enthusiastic for students to join and be part of the Nature’s Finest Club family. The club will hold its first meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 28 in the Physical Science building, room 207, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. and is open to everyone and anyone who wishes to join.
“I encourage everyone, every student at Moorpark, to come and learn about Nature’s Finest Club because it’s not just about building a garden, it’s more about creating the culture of our family, our club, our group because it’s going to be more than just a group of members,” said Robinson. “It’s going to be a family and closeness of people that depend on one another.”
For more information about Nature’s Finest Club, contact Payton Robinson at [email protected].
