Students Nurturing Alternatives in Landscaping, also known as SNAIL, has made great progress on their garden, located near the green house on south campus.

SNAIL is a student run cooperative garden founded by Allison Baker from the Masters program in Sustainable Communities. SNAIL is connected to FYS program and has open membership to any NAU student, faculty or staff.

SNAIL was given much of it’s resources from NAU Grounds Department. They have also been able to use tons of dirt from NAU composting program, which has helped in providing a healthy soil base for the garden.

In the very short time SNAIL has been running, they have already built 2 hoop houses so they can grow season-round. (See picture below.)

SNAIL aims to “embody alternatives in landscaping” and have created spaces for outdoor classrooms, student art, picnicking, and a living shade area.

SNAIL’s future goals include reaching out to larger NAU community,such as family housing at NAU so they can have a place to grow food over the summer. Additionally, they are working to educate community members and students on the connections between immigration and food issues. Social justice issues are largely behind big industrial agriculture.

If you want to get involved, or for more information, contact Allison Baker at: ab567@nau.edu