Vice President of Staying RootED Emani Thomas and President Lidia Lopez pose in the greenhouse. Kole Meschke/ The Collegiate
By Ashleigh Wolbrink
Students who want to relieve stress and make new friends can join Staying RootED, the Gardening Club at Grand Rapids Community College.
Staying RootED originally started in 2021 as an honors program, but was later discontinued and then restarted during the 2024 winter semester.
Currently there are a total of 57 members, including Lidia Lopez, 26, of Grand Rapids, who is studying Nuclear Medicine and Emani Thomas, 19, of Kentwood, who is majoring in Math and Science, the president and vice president of the club.
“I’ve always been interested in plants and how to make my life more sustainable,” Thomas said.
Prior knowledge and experience with gardening is not needed to join the club, and students who are interested just need to show up. “I came in as a member, just showing up to some of the events,” Thomas said.
Although Michigan weather can sometimes make gardening difficult, the club attempts to grow anything outside or in the greenhouse which is located on the fifth floor of the Calkins Science Center.
Lopez gave some advice about keeping house plants alive. She suggested watering your plants once a week or depending on type of plant, but don’t over water. You don’t need a lot of space, just a window, a few pots and sunlight.
The members of Staying RootED are currently looking for four to five new members who have some interest in becoming part of the E-Board.
There are many different methods of gardening, such as in-ground, green stock, and raised bed. “Every year is a progress,” Lopez said.
The group recently worked with people at the Rec Center by helping them put plants into the study halls.
Gardening is a lovely way to relax, save money, feel more connected to the Earth, and feel more joy and energy, as well as build a community. “Over the summer, we were able to give anybody that was with us, the few vegetables that did grow,” Thomas said.
“It’s nice to see that this hard and long journey brings something good at the end,” Thomas said.
The group meets biweekly on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday, depending on the week in 235 RJF Hall.
To find the meeting schedule look on Raider Connect, or their Instagram page.
Thomas gave some last parting advice and said, “Be aware of what’s going on on campus. You have to take initiative to be involved. That’s the number one thing.”
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