A rooftop oasis: The little-known greenhouse at Muskingum University
By J.W. Dennison
NEW CONCORD, Ohio—On the fourth floor of Boyd Science Center, a 1970s red brick building situated at the center of Muskingum University’s sprawling campus, is a greenhouse that many students have never heard of. The little-known oasis is home to a diverse plant collection with a rooftop view and can be accessed through the student lounge.
Kalaina Moellendick in the greenhouse in Boyd Science Center / Photo by J.W. Dennison
The greenhouse serves as an educational space for students in the biology program, including the introductory lab classes and the advanced botany course. During the latter, biology majors study “the evolution, morphology, and life-history traits of the major plant and algae groups.”
Like most other students familiar with the hidden rooftop oasis, Kalaina Moellendick, a second-year sociology major, first learned about the greenhouse when she enrolled in a biology class.
“...we are trying to get our community outreach a little bit wider, cause a lot of people don't know about the greenhouse, even the students here. I mean, if I wasn't friends with like the people [who were aware of the greenhouse], having my experience working in the lab, I wouldn't have even known about the greenhouse,” Moellendick said.
Moellendick works in the greenhouse as an assistant in the biology department. However, the greenhouse is more than an educational tool or a workplace for students like Moellendick who enjoy the space recreationally as well.
“It's such a nice place to come to just decompress. You know, you can listen to music, and here, nobody can really hear you and also, it’s beautiful again, like the greenery is just amazing,” Moellendick said.
Some students have even taken to using the space for their own plants. This includes fifth-year education major, Carly Koontz, who also works as an assitant at the greenhouse. A friend had passed on plant that was struggling due to too little sunlight, and Koontz is now trying to give it a second chance at life in a more plant-friendly climate at the greenhouse.
Carly Koontz caring for plants in the greenhouse at Boyd Science Center / Photo by J.W. Dennison
“That one is my plant and so I am up here often checking on it,” Koontz said, pointing to a house plant. “This is a great place to like rehab plants too. So, yeah, she would not dry out for me at home. So I brought her to a more aerated environment.”
The greenhouse is also where the biology honorary fraternity, Beta Beta Beta (Tri Beta), grows plants for their annual plant sale fundraisers.
“Tri Beta has this plant sale, and they have like really cheap house plants,” Koontz said. “We have a wide variety, and I bought four, I think my junior year and I was like, ‘alright, this is my House plant journey’ and all of them are still alive.”
Moellendick and Koontz both hope to see the greenhouse become a better-known location on campus that can serve more of the campus community.
“Even if there's other people in here like, feel free to stop in,” Koontz said. “A lot of us know a lot of stuff and we would love to like geek out about plants, but other than that like it's just a really peaceful atmosphere. If you come in and you kind of just like don't say anything and look at the plants we get it too. Because it's very serene—sometimes you need that.”
The greenhouse is accessible during Boyd Science Center’s open hours and is welcome to all students and staff at Muskingum University.
A conversation with Professor of Natural Sciences Danny Ingold / J.W. Dennison
