Student Success Story: Austin Sanders and Pine Street Garden

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Rural Reimagined recognizes Austin Sanders, an Agriculture and Horticulture major, for his work with Teens Need Leaders and the Pine Street Garden. Austin interns for the SeedFork of the Highlands, a nonprofit local foods initiative corporation. When at the garden, he shares project ideas and educates middle and high school students about the importance of their work, when to harvest, how to maintain the harvest, and beneficial practices of gardening. Austin is a student in Dr. Douglas Airhart’s Special Topics Class “Community Gardening Training and Development” which aligns with his work and Rural Reimagined’s initiatives. On the garden, Austin states, “I think it helps connect the community more, definitely, and it helps kind of ground and connect gardening with life and everything.” Wings up, Austin! If you are a student or faculty incorporating rural into your work, contact Kinsey Potter at sw-kbpotter@tntech.edu.