February 01, 2012
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. – If you were to take a walk around the Santa Cruz campus of Olivet University, what would stand out almost immediately would be the diversity of plant life. It’s hard not to notice as there are literally hundreds of different plants on campus. What might not be so obvious, however, is where many of them have come from.
Much like the students of Olivet University, many plants on the Santa Cruz campus come from all around the world. From the Chinese Privet (Ligustrum sinense) and Japanese Silver Grass (Miscanthus sinensis) to the Mexican Mangold (Tagetes lemonnii) and Mediterranean Dusty Miller (Senecio cineraria), plants from six continents have taken root here as part of the “Garden Mission” launched over five years ago by the school that previously occupied the campus.
The aim of the mission, which started with the goal of planting 50 different kinds of flowers from around the world, has come be to encourage visitors, students, faculty and staff to spend a few moments thinking and praying about the countries from where the plants come and the peoples that live there.
In front of each plant is its name along with where it comes from. Most parts of the campus have plants from the Mediterranean, Africa, China, Japan, and the Americas. Some plants can only be found on certain parts of the campus, such as the plants from New Zealand and Australia near the chapel, plants from Korea near the Stowell Center, and plants from the Artic near the Swanson Residence Hall.
“These plants represent most of our World Mission Field,” explains Ward Hastings, a retired biology professor who has played an integral role in the Garden Mission along with Bethany University alumni Forrest Robinson.
“We know of no other garden like this anywhere,” he adds. “It is truly unique.”
Specifically, passerbyers are encouraged to pray for the unreached people groups, the poor of the world, missionaries, local church communities and an increased burden for missions as they see the international plant life.
“We encourage you to allow the Holy Spirit to place a particular burden in your heart for a people group, country, or specific need. Then act on that burden. Do something tangible for missions,” states promotional material for the Garden.
In addition to Hastings and Robinson, helping to grow and maintain the campus’s international plant life has been student volunteers from Olivet University as well as volunteers from YES (Young Enough to Serve), a group that visits the campus weekly to keep Bethany Drive and surrounding residences clean and maintained.
“They’ve been a great help in feeding this mission,” remarks one student volunteer, Aaron Wat.
Together, all the volunteers have been working to keep the campus beautiful and prayerful through what some call the “Gardens of the World.”
Altogether there are six different “gardens” spread across the campus – the Stowell Gardens, Chapel Gardens, Hopping Gardens, Swanson Gardens, Library Gardens, and Café Gardens.
Those who want to help care for the World Missions Gardens and help to make labels for the plants are encouraged to come out Saturday mornings between 8:30 a.m. and noon.
“We would like to increase the scope of the project to include the native plants along some trails into the Coastal Redwood Forests of Olivet U,” says Hastings.
“Let’s keep our campus beautiful,” Wat adds.
Much like the students of Olivet University, many plants on the Santa Cruz campus come from all around the world. From the Chinese Privet (Ligustrum sinense) and Japanese Silver Grass (Miscanthus sinensis) to the Mexican Mangold (Tagetes lemonnii) and Mediterranean Dusty Miller (Senecio cineraria), plants from six continents have taken root here as part of the “Garden Mission” launched over five years ago by the school that previously occupied the campus.
The aim of the mission, which started with the goal of planting 50 different kinds of flowers from around the world, has come be to encourage visitors, students, faculty and staff to spend a few moments thinking and praying about the countries from where the plants come and the peoples that live there.
In front of each plant is its name along with where it comes from. Most parts of the campus have plants from the Mediterranean, Africa, China, Japan, and the Americas. Some plants can only be found on certain parts of the campus, such as the plants from New Zealand and Australia near the chapel, plants from Korea near the Stowell Center, and plants from the Artic near the Swanson Residence Hall.
“These plants represent most of our World Mission Field,” explains Ward Hastings, a retired biology professor who has played an integral role in the Garden Mission along with Bethany University alumni Forrest Robinson.
“We know of no other garden like this anywhere,” he adds. “It is truly unique.”
Specifically, passerbyers are encouraged to pray for the unreached people groups, the poor of the world, missionaries, local church communities and an increased burden for missions as they see the international plant life.
“We encourage you to allow the Holy Spirit to place a particular burden in your heart for a people group, country, or specific need. Then act on that burden. Do something tangible for missions,” states promotional material for the Garden.
In addition to Hastings and Robinson, helping to grow and maintain the campus’s international plant life has been student volunteers from Olivet University as well as volunteers from YES (Young Enough to Serve), a group that visits the campus weekly to keep Bethany Drive and surrounding residences clean and maintained.
“They’ve been a great help in feeding this mission,” remarks one student volunteer, Aaron Wat.
Together, all the volunteers have been working to keep the campus beautiful and prayerful through what some call the “Gardens of the World.”
Altogether there are six different “gardens” spread across the campus – the Stowell Gardens, Chapel Gardens, Hopping Gardens, Swanson Gardens, Library Gardens, and Café Gardens.
Those who want to help care for the World Missions Gardens and help to make labels for the plants are encouraged to come out Saturday mornings between 8:30 a.m. and noon.
“We would like to increase the scope of the project to include the native plants along some trails into the Coastal Redwood Forests of Olivet U,” says Hastings.
“Let’s keep our campus beautiful,” Wat adds.
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