College garden nourishes students beyond the classroom

LEXINGTON, Ky. — At Bluegrass Community and Technical College, a student-led initiative is helping combat food insecurity on campus.

Students are playing a role in helping their fellow students as part of the college’s rooftop garden.

Up on the rooftop, flowers bloom and fresh fruits and vegetables are being grown by students and staff at BCTC as part of its rooftop garden. Carlous Yates, vice president of engagement and student success, said the program began thanks to grant funding and a former retention program.

“This is our second year; the first year, the students kind of had the idea and was just playing around, but this year we really took it serious,” Yates said.

Yates said students are learning how to grow fresh food in a small space given to them in an urban setting. Everyt