UNION COLLEGE
ISSUE 92.11 | 01/31/2017
clock tower
THE
WHAT'S INSIDE SHUTDOWN page 03
SNOW FIGHT page 04
HER PARIS page 08
DOPE
page 11
Super cool succulents | PC: Kayla Potts
HOUSE PLANTS AND HAPPINESS T
here are some activities that simply don’t seem feasible in a dorm room, and one of these is gardening.
Elizabeth McDonald, a senior theology major, grew up gardening with her father and has continued her love of growing plants through college.
While growing a large garden isn’t possible, growing a couple of plants is very doable. In this gray winter season, having plants can help to brighten your day and your dorm room by adding a bit of color and life.
“He always had me planting plants and getting my hands in the dirt,” she said. “I loved it. And so when I came to college my freshman year, I was like ‘I need a plant. I desperately need a plant.’”
Not only do the plants help to liven up your room, it’s possible that there are also health benefits that come with having plants in indoor spaces. A study done by the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine in Romania suggested that ornamental plants could provide psychological benefits such as improving attention and reducing stress levels. Another study also revealed that many indoor plants are also able to remove pollutants from the air which can cause asthma and nausea.
Elizabeth began with succulents and then moved onto larger, leafier plants. Now she has several that she cares for. “If you dorm by yourself, it kinda gives you a little color in your room and it gives you something to nurture,” Elizabeth says. “I think that it also teaches you discipline in the fact that you have to take care of it.” She encourages other students to try their hand at growing their own plants even if they may believe that they can’t keep them alive.
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