The smell of dirt and mulch wafts through the air as dozens of Binghamton University students work diligently on what used to be an empty lot between houses on Clarke Avenue in Downtown Binghamton. The students operate drilling machinery, put up plywood squares and begin planting what will soon be the neighborhood’s first community garden.
“Our class, MGMT 350, organized this,” said Shuki Cirlin, a Scholars Program junior, referring to the second annual PricewaterhouseCoopers Scholars Community Service Day.
In addition to BU students, there were many construction workers on the scene working on the plywood enclosure which would surround small gardens in the lot.
Next year, Cirlin hopes all students can participate.
“Unfortunately we couldn’t publicize due to limited space,” he said. “But next year we’re hoping that more people can take part whether they’re in the class or not.”
MGMT 350 is part of the School of Management’s Scholars Program, which maintains contact with several large firms, such as PwC, a Manhattan accounting firm that sponsored the event.
“What you see here are mostly students,” Cirlin explained, “But PricewaterhouseCoopers helped us put up the money for this.”
PwC was formed in 1998, and is currently the third-largest privately owned organization in the United States, making worldwide revenues of up to $28 million.
Before the SOM students began their work, the location was simply an empty lot in between houses on the avenue. Afterward, the lot had been transformed into a full-fledged garden, growing various kinds of flowers and vegetables. Local residents are invited to help maintain this garden as they please.
“We also did a gardening program at Horace Mann Elementary with the kids,” Cirlin said.
Horace Mann Elementary School is located a few blocks from the location of the garden. Earlier that day, the students did a program teaching the kids in the school how to properly maintain a garden, as well as give them an opportunity to add their own personal touches during garden construction.
“The kids decorated pinwheels to put in the garden,” an SOM student said. “We also got to show them this program about gardening.”
Throughout the neighborhood, the local residents were sitting on porches and front steps watching the construction.
Last year the scholars worked on Webster Street Park, and a third community service day is being planned for next year.