Sustainability Highlight: Ashley Schlipp ‘25, Maggie Miklas ‘25

From left to right, Maggie Miklas ‘25, Ashley Schlipp ‘25

Photos courtesy of Sustainability

Name: Maggie Miklas

Zodiac: Aquarius
Ideal date: A lunch or coffee date, followed by frolicking through a museum

Name: Ashley Schlipp

Zodiac: Pisces
Ideal date: A hike through the Columbia River Gorge, followed by a trip to Quarterworld to enjoy retro arcade games and yummy food.

Reed’s garden and orchard spaces are more than just green patches on campus—they’re thriving hubs of sustainability, community, and student initiative. These spaces, overseen by our wonderful Garden Stewards Ashley Schlipp ‘25 and Maggie Miklas ‘25 foster a deeper connection to the environment by providing fresh produce to the Reed Community Pantry (RCP) and serving as a general area for students to relax and gather for conferences.

From weeding and planting to harvesting and winter bed prep, the stewards carry lots of responsibilities, but for them, the work is more than just chores—it’s a way to engage with nature and the campus community in meaningful ways. They love bringing the garden to life. The stewards have worked on the Orchard through the summer in order to make it a more accessible place for people to hang out, walk, have class, and more.

"My favorite part of working in the garden is developing a mutualistic relationship with nature," Miklas reflects. "It’s not just about taking—it’s about giving back to the soil and seeing the results in the form of fresh produce." She also stated that, “making the newsletter brings me incredible joy.”

Schlipp shares a similar sentiment, saying “I love the peacefulness of working alone in the garden early in the morning, sometimes spotting unexpected animal visitors like Cole the Mole.”

The garden, while standing strong, has not always been as used as it is today. Looking back into Reed history the garden has a long history of student-led care, but it faced significant setbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic. With fewer students on campus and the Farm House and Canyon House used for quarantine housing, the garden became overgrown and neglected, as it did not experience much engagement other than the COVID students taking a break outside.

In 2021, with the hiring of Rachel Willis as the Sustainability Coordinator, the garden saw a new era. Willis introduced the Garden Stewards role, which allowed students to rework the space. Over the past few years, stewards have expanded the garden’s capacity, transforming an overgrown area near the farmhouse into a productive plot yielding squash, corn, and pumpkins.

A key part of their work includes supplying the RCP with fresh produce, ensuring that students have access to healthy, campus-grown food. Schlipp emphasizes, “If everyone thinks, ‘someone else needs it more than me,’ then the produce just goes to waste. It’s better to share and enjoy it.” So take advantage of the RCP and get some fresh produce while you still can.

Like any job, it comes with many highs but also comes with some lows. While the stewards love their work, they acknowledge challenges. Many students remain unaware of the garden and orchard, or hesitate to utilize the RCP due to stigma. “It’s frustrating to see produce go to waste when it could be nourishing our community,” Miklas stated. 

To encourage engagement, the stewards host monthly work parties where students can de-stress with gardening tasks such as planting, weeding, cleaning, etc. They also promote the community bed—a plot reserved for anyone to plant and harvest as they please, with summer watering handled by the stewards. This allows for students to bring their love of gardening to Reed, even while living in a dorm.

Schlipp highlights another opportunity: donations. “If you have seeds or gardening supplies you can’t use, send them our way! We’re always looking for ways to expand and enrich the garden.”

The garden offers more than just free food. It’s a space to decompress, reconnect with nature, and build a sense of community. “Gardening is therapeutic,” Miklas shares. “It’s a break from academic and social pressures—a chance to just be present.”

Whether through volunteering, visiting the RCP, or donating supplies, every contribution helps sustain this vital campus resource. The Garden Stewards are excited for students to get involved in the garden however they can.

Interested in learning more? Reach out to the Garden Stewards or stop by during their next work party—you might just discover your new favorite place on campus. 

You can contact the stewards at aschlipp@reed.edu and maggiemiklas@reed.edu.