Photo: Saidkamolkhon Bakhodirov

Located south of the Innovation Building and the WDR, the DKU Community Garden is a growing community project shaped by years of effort. The garden includes about 50 plots belonging to faculty and students. It serves as a place for nature-inspired expression and imagination.

First established in 2020, the garden went through several interruptions because of the pandemic and a lack of people available to maintain it. The original Phase One garden was eventually abandoned during COVID-19, but interest returned in 2023 when faculty and students began working to bring the project back. With the support of the newly formed Community Garden Steering Committee (CGSC), the group found a new space in Phase Two and rebuilt the garden with help from the Climate Sustainability Initiative, which provided planting boxes and compost. Today, the garden has slowly grown into a welcoming space where faculty, students, and nature come together. The garden has added notable improvements, including new compost bins, richer soil, and better-organized plots. With winter approaching, many gardeners have focused on growing hardy flowers and vegetables.

One of the highlights of the DKU Community Garden is the hydrangea bed located right at the entrance. Hydrangeas are loved for their large, vivid blooms, which can change color depending on the soil’s acidity, ranging from soft pinks to deep blues, adding dashes of color to the garden that greets visitors upon their entrance. With winter inevitably approaching, tulips, daffodils, and other flowers are being planted, preparing to patiently endure the cold months ahead. 

Their delicate petals and cheerful yellow and red hues promise a bright, uplifting display in spring; definitely a season to visit and see the garden in full blossom. The garden also showcases a variety of crops and vegetables, reflecting the diversity of what the DKU community is growing. 

Bright red chili peppers stand out with their glossy skin and fiery color, hinting at the heat and flavor they bring to any dish.

Classic staples like crisp, tender lettuce, pungent garlic bulbs, and strong-scented onions grow abundantly throughout the plots, providing both visual and aromatic richness. 

Meanwhile, mint has naturally spread across several beds, its reverberant green leaves releasing a refreshing, cool scent that drifts through the garden, inviting visitors to pause and inhale deeply. For anyone seeking a unique study spot or hoping to connect with the community, a walk through the garden is always rewarding. You might stumble upon a teacher or a fellow gardener, or simply enjoy the sights, smells, and textures of the thriving plants around you. Either way, a visit to the DKU Community Garden is always worth your time.

Beyond daily gardening, the DKU Community Garden fosters a strong sense of participation and collaboration across campus. It has collaborated closely with the DKU Sustainable Club and several local farms, which may host panels and workshops in the future. The garden also strives to make gardening accessible to all by offering guidance, practical tips, and shared materials, ensuring that tending to each plot is both seamless and meaningful. 

As one gardener put it, it is a place where “we not only build a collaboration with nature but also with other people.”