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Let’s Build Something Together<\/h1>\n
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Perseverance is a defining characteristic<\/span> of a WSU Cougar. Lee Mendez knows all about it. Establishing an organic greenhouse on the WSU Pullman campus takes a lot of it, said Lee, President of the Organic Agriculture Club.<\/p>\n \u201cBefore I came to WSU and people would say \u2018Go Cougs!\u2019 I didn\u2019t really know what that meant. And now I totally understand it,\u201d he said. \u201cThis experience has really taught me what being a Coug is all about.\u201d<\/p>\n Building an organic greenhouse has been an interdisciplinary, collaborative learning opportunity\u2014from conceiving the idea to procuring funding to manufacturing plans to physically building it. To tell the story of this process, Lee has to prepare: he breathes in deep and shakes his head slowly.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat it takes to actually build something, and the amount of people who are involved\u2026it\u2019s a ton of work,\u201d he said. \u201cHaving the support of professors and the excitement surrounding the project really made it worth it, and made me appreciate not having to do it all on my own.\u201d<\/p>\n The work started when the Organic Ag Club noticed something troublesome: they weren\u2019t retaining members from year to year. So they racked their brains for ways to keep students invested and active in the club. The answer? Their very own, dedicated organic greenhouse.<\/p>\n But that seemingly simple idea turned out to be a bit more complicated in practice. After securing funds for the kit to build the greenhouse from the Environmental Sustainability Alliance\u2014a student group working to promote sustainability and environmental stewardship at WSU\u2014the real work of logistics, location, and labor began, totaling more than three times the cost of the greenhouse itself.<\/p>\n \u201cAt first, we felt completely disheartened,\u201d Lee said. \u201cBut then we started brainstorming ways to cut down that cost. With in-kind donations and added cost-cutting measures, we were able to get the total project cost down significantly.\u201d<\/p>\n While the money was definitely an obstacle, the Organic Ag Club never lost sight of why they were building something together.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to leave a legacy. We want to see other students get the same depth of understanding and develop the same love of agriculture\u2014that\u2019s what the greenhouse is for,\u201d Lee said. \u201cNot to mention how much I appreciate what this school has already given me. The quality of education, the professors, being involved in this project: it makes me want to give something back.\u201d<\/p>\n Along with perseverance, giving back is a big part of what makes a Coug a Coug.<\/p>\n \u201cThis school is full of researchers pushing the boundaries of science and full of students who are seriously here to make a change in the world. These are humble people trying to make something of themselves\u2014building a foundation for the future,\u201d he added.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n <\/p>\n \t \t \n \t \t<\/p><\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/s3.wp.wsu.edu\/uploads\/sites\/2008\/2018\/01\/reconnect2018-mendez.jpg\")
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\u201cAt Wenatchee Valley College, we had a greenhouse. I was able to apply what I was learning in my ag courses in that greenhouse,\u201d Lee said. \u201cIt really had an impact on me, so it seemed like a no-brainer.\u201d<\/p>\nConnecting with CAHNRS<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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