Tomatoes, okra and cucumbers, oh my! GPC Newton math professor Sallie Paschal was among faculty and students who worked the gardens on the Newton Campus this summer. In between teaching math courses online, the math professor "adopted" and worked three garden plots, which produced more than 150 pounds of vegetables and a few watermelons this summer.

Paschal recently donated the bountiful harvest to the Community Food Bank of Newton and to the Garden of Gethsemane Shelter in Covington. The garden, which was launched last spring, is part of the college's sustainability and student engagement efforts.

Paschal is already gearing up for fall gardening and on Friday, Sept. 21 and Saturday, Sept. 22, there will be a student workday on the Newton Campus to mulch and amend garden plots for planting. The fall crop will be red and green lettuce, romaine, Swiss chard, collards and arugula, among other fall veggies, Paschal said. She is among other GPC Newton faculty and students who have gardened over the summer, with an eye toward donating their harvest to needy groups.