![Vista Rotaract Club Gardens for the Community]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1632515463/vista/o5vylng4ltgfdmqaqeu8/GardenProject.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1632515463/vista/o5vylng4ltgfdmqaqeu8/GardenProject.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1632515463/vista/o5vylng4ltgfdmqaqeu8/GardenProject.jpg","width":600}])
At Vista, we believe that a sense of community is what binds us together. In fact, those at Vista learn that it is possible to become active members of a diverse array of communities.
In this blog series, What does Community Mean to You?, we will be highlighting a few of the communities that our students and members take part in. We hope that by reading these stories, you will be able to learn about the valuable connections that our students and members make every day.
With the support of local Madison and Guilford Rotary clubs, Vista has launched its own Rotaract Club! This historic Rotaract club allows individuals of all abilities to come together to support their local communities.
On September 17th, the club organized its first project, a vegetable garden on Vista’s Madison campus. The vegetable garden will bring fresh produce to Vista’s regularly occurring cafes. The club was able to develop this project because of a Rotary District Grant and the enthusiastic support of Rotary liaisons Michael Perry and Bill Stableford.
The Vista Rotaract Club organizing plants for the new garden beds, including Rotary liaisons Bill Stableford and Michael Perry
On Saturday, the Vista Rotaract Club began planting in the garden beds. These plants included spinach, cabbage, arugula, Swiss chard, kale, and escarole. The club members worked together, from digging to planting to watering. Margaret, Vista Rotaract's Vice President, said that the garden planting day gave her "so much confidence, and I learned so much." With support from Rotarians and Vista’s staff, our students and members learned about the different types of plants in the garden as well as how to space the plants and stretch their roots. It was an exciting day full of learning, laughter and strengthening relationships while supporting their local communities.
Students and members in the Rotaract Club planting fresh vegetables to grow
This is just the beginning of Vista Rotaract garden. The club hopes to grow more fruits and vegetables in the Spring of 2022.
Members of the Vista Rotaract Club at their new garden beds
More to come!