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University Marketing and Communications

Episode 65: Jessica Chambers

Rachel: Welcome to Redbird Buzz. I'm Rachel Kobus from University Marketing and Communications. If you have ever wandered north of campus, you may have come across 23 acres of vibrant natural beauty, better known as the Illinois State University Horticulture Center, a part of the Department of Agriculture, the center is a living laboratory for red birds to have hands-on educational experiences, to be a focal point for research, and to serve as a community outlet to connect humans to nature. And it is managed by an extraordinary staff led by 1993 ISU horticulture alum Jessica Chambers. Jessica has been with the center from its inception, and for the past 21 years, she has literally grown the center to what it is today. So, Jessica, what's the word, Redbird? Tell us a little bit about yourself and the Horticulture Center.  
 
Jessica: Well, thank you for having me, Rachel, that is a great intro. You know what? I really consider myself a product of my university because I started at Metcalf, went to U High, and then of course went to ISU, and I never, ever, ever thought that I would be back at ISU, but I can tell you that I love academia. I like, even when we go to student competitions and go to other universities. Like it's like oh, like what would you learn here? And you know, like I love academia. I love learning, and you know I have three kids, and all three of my kids went through Metcalf U High and ISU. And one of the things that I I know we're going to talk about this in a little bit, but I would say one of my most favorite things is that my kids grew up out at the Hort Center. Yeah, it was wonderful. While while we're working, that they went over and played. 
 
Rachel: A little envious of that. So, and you, you saying that that kind of leads me into the first question because I want to get to know you, Jessica, as the director and being an alum of Illinois State, and then we'll get into the Horticulture Center. But how is it that you took the time to get to know the you know I want to know the dreamer behind the horticulture center. So, what grew your passion for nature?  
 
Jessica: So, I think it probably started, you know, as a young kid spending a lot of time outdoors. I lived most of my childhood out in the country, and then my dad would take us to like state parks. Like we didn't have a lot of funds to go on big trip. Maybe just a trip here or there, but the local day trip to Marine View or Come Laura, or sometimes we got lucky. Went down to Southern Illinois. So I definitely think that was probably you know the beginning. Yeah. But I thought about this question a long time, and I really think like if I think about 21 years ago and starting at the Horticulture Center, and I had already been at ISU as an NTT for like six seven years before that. But if I just think about my time at the Hort Center, what I knew about nature, what I knew about prairies, what about gardens, I'm like I just want to go back and give myself a hug and say it's gonna be okay. It's gonna be okay because I have learned so much, and I think as you learn, you build, and then you ask questions, and I think that's like again one of the beauties of of academia that we can, you know, learn things and ask questions and be creative and and come up with these wonderful things. Yeah, and that the horticulture center definitely creativity is one of the.. You know we were talking about it this morning with the crew and it's like creativity having that freedom to to be able to use art or whatever whatever discipline in a different way is has been, you know, just a total gift.  
 
Rachel: I love it. So, and then this is gonna. You talked a little bit about obviously you have a legacy at ISU, so have some passion behind that. But what did this, you know, work with nature and that passion for nature? How did that lead you to decide Illinois State would be the place to grow that passion?  
 
Jessica: Well, that was kind of by accident. In terms of my husband had gotten a position a long time ago now with the assistant state's attorney. And so I was here, and I had gotten my master's at Southern Illinois University and had taught a class similar to one in the ag department. So, like in 1999, I just had my first child. He was here working full time. I thought I'm going to apply to ISU, and I got that teaching position, part time lecture, which was great while I had my kids. And then in 2005, I think that's when the Horticulture Center position came open, and that's when I applied. So, like, I didn't know that at first. You know, when I started working at ISU, I just knew that from being at Southern, I really liked being a teaching assistant down there. I liked teaching. I liked working with students. And again, like, I grew up like I grew up in Felmley Hall, throwing tennis balls from the fourth floor down to the first floor to my sister. So, like, I knew, you know, or I, you know, I knew it. Yeah. So I have always been part of that academia. So it was comforting. As for the Hort Center, that came later. But I think a lot of the different things I had to learn or know, or qualities that I had to learn along the way helped. Oh yeah, applying for that job. Yes, yeah.  
 
Rachel: Well, and then how lucky it was that it just happened to. I mean, I feel like that's fate is really what it is. Got you. I totally.  
 
Jessica: I agree because I think about it, and I'm like, you know, I don't think with this job I am the best horticulturist. There's a couple people I worked with at the center, like Jackie Dixon or Nick. I'm like, they are some of the best horticulturists I know. But I think I've had to juggle a bunch of different things. Yes, and I'm pretty good at begging, whining, pleading. You know. So that the little center just keeps on ticking every year. Yeah, and then we all work hard. We work really, really hard out there.  
 
Rachel: Yeah, well, and the fact even though you think you're not the best horticulturist, the whole point, like you said, is academia. Though you're growing horticulturists, and you're making the best horticulturist from Illinois State to go out and then share what they've learned here. Yes, I feel like you are up there as one of the best in my life. So, you know, we want to remind everyone the Horticulture Center is a part of the College of Applied Science Technology through the Department of Agriculture. So, the Department of Agriculture is almost like another home for you as an alum, and now has been there a long time, a long time.  
 
Jessica: 27 years in the department alone when I was a student,  
 
Rachel: Right? I know. So I guess what would you say makes this department stand out from other institutions' departments? You've gone a few other places. You've worked with obviously you know your peer institution. So, what makes our agriculture department stand out?  
 
Jessica: So, this may be true, and I'm sure it probably is of most of the departments or all the departments on campus. But I think the thing over all the years I've been most proud of is the open door policy. That we are there for our students. What do you need? How can we help you? And ag has like oh you know changes chairs you know people come and go people retire new people come but I feel like that is our strength is that we have that open door policy but you know I just want to share this like one of our core beliefs is that plants and nature affect all aspects of life and thus should inform all areas of study. So, one of our goals is that we want to work with every discipline on campus, and like before I retire, I want to make sure that every single department knows the horticulture center and that we've worked with them. And you know, like when you go across campus and then you see how other things are done because you know we're on the north end of town, so you get isolated. People say, "Have you gone across the quad? I'm like, "No, I haven't done that for a long time, you know. But like this year, we're working with Dr. Logan Miller, who's an archeologist in anthropology and sociology, and he's been wonderful. Like he's wonderful. Like learning about his lab is wonderful. The collaborations we have this fall, I am so looking forward to. And so, like I think that's a beauty of plants and nature, right? It really is a part of all disciplines. Yes. I remember Dr. Bachman. He was a professor that when I started was here, and he left a few years later, but he used to say that you know not every like horticulture is a discipline that everybody can dabble in, right? You can have your herb garden, you can have your house plants, you can love vegetable gardens, but not everybody can be you know a state trooper or you know or or a dentist that takes care of your, you know, like we can't. But horticulture is something that bridges, you know, all people and really I would say all ages. Yeah, and that's just such a beautiful thing about horticulture.  
 
Rachel: That's why a tomato plant is growing so my six year old can harvest tomato.  
 
Jessica: I mean that's yeah right yeah right yeah love it yeah and that's I was gonna say and that's why for 10 years through a 4-H program, I learned all about prairie plants and I like Expero and I love Illinois prairies and the importance of them. Hey, Rachel! I know I can get all. We could do a prairie one. I would love to talk about the prairie at the Hort Center because to be honest, like that was the the first garden. We planted okay, and that really has changed how I look at Illinois. And really, if you follow the Hort Center, a lot of the themes that we've done. And also like like building, like building from year to year on what we've done out there.  
 
Rachel: Yeah, yeah, very cool. I did not realize that's one. Yes, so there you go. We could, I think, well, like you said, you could do so many different themes about horticulture and what the horticulture center has to offer. So maybe we'll have you back on for a future episode.  
 
Jessica: Let's talk prairie.  
 
Rachel: Let's talk prairie. So, like we said, you went from a student to a staff member, and then you've been the director of the Horticulture Center since its inception in 2005. Okay. So, can you give us a brief background of how this idea grew into what is this beautiful and educational center?  
 
Jessica: So, a lot of that work had been what in the later 90s with some of the horticulture professors that were here, and so, like, I didn't really know that was really going on until that position opened up, and so it took a while. I think they had an aquaculture center that they phased out, and then that position became the horticulture center. So that you know that that took a while. ISU Farm moved from Gregory to Lexington, and then you know we horticulture had a space out there, so that took a while to transition. So when I started, we had 10 acres.  
 
Rachel: Okay, wow.  
 
Jessica: And now we're 23. And boy, like again, just very, just think of myself as young and naive, you know. But you know, over the years, there's been so many wonderful people that have helped build that to the 23 acres and all the. I think we have about 17 different types of gardens or spaces out there. So it's like every year, you know. By the time that we have the autumnal festival, which is coming up here in September, that we're going to talk about, we just try and do a little bit more, make it a little bit better. Yeah. And that that philosophy has served us well. Yes.  
 
Rachel: Yeah. No. And I mean, just to watch it, to be there that whole time and be able to watch it grow-that has to be amazing.  
 
Jessica: You know what? Sometimes you don't see it as much. Like it's when I go back and like last year with 20 years. I was looking back at pictures. I was like, "Oh my goodness! Or a lot of times when visitors come who hadn't been there for a while, they have seen that you know that pine has grown five feet. Oh yeah, yeah. Because when you're there every day, sometimes you forget, you miss it. Yeah,  
 
Rachel: No, yeah, that makes sense. Yeah,  
 
Jessica: See, that's why you go back and visit. Yeah, well, sometimes on summer vacation when I go with my family and come back, I'm like, oh, that garden really did nice while I was gone, and so did those weeds, or not. The crew did really well this summer. No, they were on time.  
 
Rachel: Especially with all the rain and everything. Yeah, I'm sure they had to keep up with everything. Oh gosh, that’s exhausting, I bet. So, why do you feel it's important that we have a place like the Horticulture Center at Illinois State?  
 
Jessica: You know, I think it is crucial that every academic entity, whatever small college, liberal college, all the way up to your big universities, have a place for people to connect to nature. I think the best example I can tell you within the first couple years at the center, we had planted a fruit garden and we had a vegetable garden, and I had a student point to an apple on the apple tree in the fruit garden, asked me if it was a tomato. Oh, so it is a fruit, but we do plant tomatoes in our veggie garden, not in our fruit garden. But I was able to take her from the fruit to the veggie and say, "Look at these are tomatoes.” You know, like so it's in the nightshade family. You know, you this, you know, it's a herbaceous plant. Doesn't like the cold. Here, you can taste one. There's a bunch of different kinds, but you know, if you don't know it, if you've never seen it, how would you know? Exactly. And I think this happens more and more. One of the things that, like I said, building on past experiences, when Amy Stewart, the author, came, she says, "Life short, plant everything, and that's when it really clicked in. Like, yes, our plants are for demonstration purposes, so that we can show you what cotton looks like, what eggplant looks like, what pear tree looks like. But, like, I think we can show you that. But, but it's got to be like diverse. It has to be more than one type of garden. It can't because again, if it comes back to you like to garden with your child, and you know I like to whatever play like house plants or I like to be in the. I think you have to have that diverse gardens out there because people connect to nature in different ways. It's not. It's just not one way, you know. Or find new ways to connect to it too. That yeah, for sure. Which we try and I think that's where the creativity and the art part, the artistic part, can come in. Like, how are we going to do this? We're trying to do this in our children's garden now. One of our newer gardens that we installed this year is our logarium. So the logarium is a garden based on fell felled trees. So these are trees that have been displaced because of storms. Okay. Were planted in the wrong place, or maybe had disease. All right. And so our logarium, all the trees that are really coming from campus, mostly from the quad. So we have like the Austrian pine that was planted with the first graduating class in 1861 as part of our logarium. I really, really hope that people go out and see this because with storms like what we had last week, we cannot just continue to chip everything that falls. And and to be honest, this logarium has brought so much more life into what was just turf. Like in that area, we've seen more birds, we've seen more lichen, we've seen moss, we've seen chipmunks, we've seen garter snakes. Yeah, and I know some people are like, I don't like snakes, but listen, it is part in nature, and they have their role. Yes, but the point is, is like when a tree falls in the woods. Let's say there's a whole second life that it lives or leads. Yeah. And if we're just like just remove it, remove it, remove it, chip it, move it on. Like no, I think we need to be more creative. We need: How can I use that log that just fell in my yard? I'm putting it in my garden. Yeah. And what? How am I going to use it? Am I going to plant around it? Am I going to make a little raised bed with it? Am I going to put it upright, dig it up, use it as a sculpture? But I just I'm hoping that so this is like one of the things that the center can do is that get you to think. Yeah, you see it, and I'm like, how can I do this at home? Or what? Oh, that's a new annual. Can I plant that at home? Or that prairie in August is absolutely magnificent. I need a little piece of this in my yard. Yeah, that's fascinating too. And I was going to say when you said for the logarium, the history that comes with it. It's very respectful to do something that was there for us for over 100 and some years. Instead of just chipping it, and I understand that we need to do some of that, but I do think with some of these foundation trees, some of these things that are really meaningful to us, I think let's let's think how we can really be respectful, you know, to that part of of nature. Yeah,  and if people don't, you know, understand exactly what they can do, that's why I think we have centers that students come out and ask horticulturists and those that are more experienced in nature. How can I better use nature once we think nature is through its cycle? That there's still, like you said, a second life for a lot of species. So,  
 
Rachel: Yeah, totally love it, totally. So a lot of institutions have centers that give hands-on experience to students, faculty to learn, and or. I'm sorry, do many institutions have similar centers like the Horticulture Center that give this hands-on experience to students and faculty to learn and research? So you know, are there examples that you can give? We kind of talked about the logarium. I feel is a great place for that hands-on, but you know, what makes again going back, what makes us a little unique? What kind of research has taken place at the horticulture center, or that hands-on experience that you want to bring to the forefront?  
 
Jessica: So I think most institutions, most academic institutions, on whatever you know, it's a big university like U of I or like Wesleyan. I do think that they have some form of way that, and it could be an arboretum that they're connecting teachers. Sometimes a conservatory. Sometimes it's a park. Yeah. Sometimes it's collections, big collections. So I think yes, they do. Every summer I try and take my crew to go visit places like this so that they can see beyond the horticulture center. I think Ryman in Iowa is a big one. I'm not sure how much their students are involved now, but it is part of their university, and then of course U of I has trial gardens. So yes, that I have never seen anything quite the same as the horticulture center, but there are you know different ways at different institutions. Okay, so that was the first part. Second part, leading into yeah,  
 
Rachel: So like give me some ideas, you know, because like make that unique research. 
 
Jessica: So the Hort Center is three pronged. Okay, so it's an outdoor laboratory for students in any discipline. In any discipline, the gardens are open to the public. That's our outreach. A lot of our volunteers are from the public, from the community. They are the soul of the center. The center would not function without our community. And then the third prong is research. So the research component tends to be more on the west side of the center. That would involve like Ruth Burke with her earthwork that we're working on. We're gonna weed that this Friday. If anybody wants about in the next couple Fridays, we're working on that. Right now, the prairie is growing in there, and it's doing pretty well. So it's the more tedious of starting to separate the the weeds from the really good prairie plants in there. Jason Rablando had his camera obscura out there? That kind of got hit with the storm earlier in the year, but we're hoping to fix that. Okay. Let's see. Doctor Sedbrook Heller and Yang have different types of. I think right now they have sorghum that's planted out there. Okay. They have different type of research that's been a lot of that biofuel based. And right now we have a new professor, Dr. Sose. I'm saying Dr. Sose Goldar Lopez, but check me on that that I didn't plug it. We just call him Sose. Yes, like he's from Spain and lovely. He brought his team out last week and they were planting different types or milkweed. Oh yeah, I can't remember if it's different types of milkweed or milkweed that he's gotten from different parts of the United States. Yeah, very interesting. Yeah, it's great. You can see it up on the hill. Yeah. So, so yeah. So the research is, and then we've had other research in the past, and it's a nice component. You know, it makes you think a little bit differently, and definitely like Ruth's earthwork is a you know a I think part of her part of the reason why she did it is a as a land acknowledgement to the indigenous people, plants, and animals of Illinois, and that kind of has built, like I said, the building. You know, like I've learned so much for the prairie. The prairie got me to think about who are the people here. Like who? I don't know. Like I didn't know who the people were here. It's gotten me to think about glaciers and why Illinois is people like oh it's flat and boring. No way! If you know the power of a glacier, some of the shortest glaciers were the height of Watterson Towers. So imagine that scraping. That's like so. Like the power of that is amazing. So Paul in geology loved talking to Paul about geology, and we try incorporate you know that story into the children's garden where we can tell talk that talk about that in the the children's garden, yeah. So I think I've probably gotten off.  
 
Rachel: No, I think you just reiterated why it's important that all disciplines can come out and use this facility. Yeah, it's like you think about you. You touch just so many different, just like said the majors and fields and all just from Illinois State, and that they have a place to go that can try all this different research too, and that makes to me the horticulture center a unique place.  
 
Jessica: Yeah, we're here. Yeah, yes, everything's there. Please reach out. Yes, so that's why I was going to say too. To me, the horticulture I drive past it every day because that's on my way to work, so I get to see what it looks like every day, kind of similar. What are they? Not in it. Yes, I love it. But it is just remarkable. But I also say it's a hidden gem for our local community because if you don't come out, you know, north of town or north of campus, you'll miss it. Yeah.  
 
Rachel: Can you share what someone visiting the center can expect to experience?  
 
Jessica: Okay. So if you were out there today, I would definitely say I saw monarchs flying out there today. It's very, very green. Yeah, it is very, very colorful. When we were weeding this morning, we found a toad. So nature is out there. There is diverse gardens from the vegetable garden, herb garden, fruit garden, rose. The bigger ones are the pineum, which is a collection of cone-bearing plants. The logarium, which we've been talking about, based on felled trees. The prairies in her full glory. Yeah, all those sylphiums blooming out there. And then the children's garden is another one of our actually endowed gardens. Yeah, it's pretty. It's a pretty big garden. So I think what I would hope is to see all that the vibrancy, and to see the nature. And I'd say take your time. You know, just wander through. I'd hope maybe they take away a little idea. Maybe that logarium, or you saw some coal plant in the veggie garden, or you listened to one of the QR codes in our literary garden, you know. So I think that that's what I would hope for. It she does a pretty good job of absorbing all that rain we got. Yes, the prairie is pretty good at absorbing her. So it's still pretty wet out there, but overall she's looking she's looking pretty fine.  And I want to let everyone know, you know, there's trails too. Yeah, I think that was a student project. Yeah, there is. Yeah, we had a student project. Yes, E Triple  S student who mapped out a third of. I don't think you could do the third though. It's through the. And that is like when I saw it Sunday, there's standing water there. But the half mile goes around the whole entire center. So just to know that you know to go into different places, but you can literally walk through different areas of the horticulture center too. So it's not something where it's park, look at it, walk away. It is correct. Very. We have a lot of people that stop for lunch. Yeah. Because we have picnic tables out there, and have or you know I could see and bring coffee and breakfast. So yeah, and I didn't think about this. Illinois is a four-season state, so how does it work throughout the seasons then too? Like I said, right now we're in summer, but fall and winter, and she's open all year. There are some days we're closed, so it's always good to check the website for that because we'll like before the autumnal festival the week before she'll be closed. Usually by fall, you know I was talking about the diversity of plants. So we do have a lot of house plants, tropical plants that we dig up and we'll take in. So as soon as the cold weather comes, yeah, like starts to come. So probably October is usually then that goes into the greenhouse, and then we kind of shut her down. I mean, that's not to say you can't go out and walk, but any you know certain things like maybe the swinging benches in the Prairie Pavilion go up so they don't get torn off. Yeah. So and but but she's she's still yeah, and then we just kind of let her rest, like all of us, let's say for horticultures, winter is a wonderful thing because it's a time to rest and it's a time to dream and plan and come back in the spring to win. Yeah, come back again, do it again.  
 
Rachel: So you mentioned the autumnal festival, so I did want to bring that up before we wrap up with a couple more questions. So the center hosts a variety of events connected to nature, horticulture, agriculture, and one is coming up this September. Correct. It's your annual autumnal festival. So, can you talk about what that is and why that has been such a big importance to the center?  
 
Jessica: Well, so I count the years of the center through the autumnal festival. So this is your own calendar, then yeah. And actually, so she's a tiny bit older, but but it's a good way to count. Yes, it's actually a little older than 21 years. But I say this year we're grown up. We're finally 21. Finally grown up. It is our main fundraiser. It's how we keep the center running because we do have to fundraise for most things at the center. So yeah, so it's a big deal. Like even if you can't come, even a small donation to help that weekend is a big deal. Every year we have a different theme. I think a theme is important because for us, the crew, it's a different way to learn about nature, and and there's so many things. We're never ever in one lifetime gonna learn everything. But for us, our theme this year is the World Wild Web, recognizing the community of living things. So we're gonna have a couple of showcases that are student led of projects of that they've done. Nally Bruce is one of our students. She's worked really hard on making these birds, these insects, and then showing with interpretation how they're all connected. And a lot of those items will then be for for sale. Very cool. Another thing that we do is we have our Grant Walsh Student Artist in Residence Program. All right. So our resident this year is Ethan Prado. Okay. He just graduated from ISU, and he has made a piece. He's composed a piece called Juglanology. Okay, so it's a piece that'll be played in the logarium, and it's based. He made some of these instruments out of hardwood, using hardwood. So put them in the logarium. So again, other examples of how it's just not Hurt students, you know. Yeah, yeah. This is music. So, so we have a lot of different collaborators from ISU. We talked about Dr. Logan Miller. He's the archeologist that we're going to be working with in November when Dr. Barnhart comes. He's a guest that's going to be speaking, but we're going to start like like getting it. How do I say all warmed up and kind of introducing archeology at the center and have like a little pig, not a pig, a pit, a pit. I'm so sorry. Evolve it. I mean, yeah, pit with interpretation. Okay. So and then I think the archeology club is going to be there. So we have them. We have the Clem Insect Ecology and Biodiversity Lab will be there. Doctor Sose will be out there. Yeah. And then Event Management Dining always does something with the Troy. He's going to be there. Ruth with the earthwork. Dr. Greg Carter in history, nature play. This is in family and consumer sciences with Carrie Edwards. So we have a lot of botany. Botany with so Sydney. Sydney's going to be there. And so that's just an example of a lot of the collaborations we have. Student organizations, we have our artists in residence with our student exhibits. One of our alums, Todd Kingry, is actually making a World Wild Web that will be a sculpture right at the entrance. Oh yeah! If you haven't been by there, yes. Now we have a giant nine foot red bird at the entrance, it's made of in all branches. I think silver maple. Yes, up here first. Yep, that's what this world wild weather will be bigger than that. So there'll be a lot of different things to see. We have local organizations that will be there, like the Central Illinois Beekeepers and PK, and then hopefully showing showcasing that logarium.  
 
Rachel: So, what are the dates for it?  
 
Jessica: September 12 and 13th. So, Saturday and Sunday, nine to four on Saturday the 12th, and then 11 to three on Sunday the 13th.  
 
Rachel: Like you said, she's alive all the time, but she really comes to life on those two days too.  
 
Jessica: We really work so that everything is really at her very best. Because, like you said, like you work in a garden and then you get the rain, you come back. It's like there's weeds, but you do tend to get more through those as the summer go. Yes, not as much rain, but yeah, but so but that's our goal is that she's really in looking for September. Yeah, and then all these other things like we also have Misha Morales, our chainsaw carver? So she'll have her elements in the logarium added by then.  
 
Rachel: So, and then you can always go to the Horticulture Center's website to have more information about when the Autumnal Festival is and the details. But september 12 through the 13th year this year, correct? So very good. Yes. So I guess I wanted to end with, is there any opportunities for those to be involved with the center if you're not an agricultural student at Illinois State? You've mentioned this already. It's open to anybody. It is. So I wanted to give that kind of open call for you, though.  
 
Jessica: I mean, just for the summer, we had a graphic design student during the school year. I have a history student that's archiving the materials of the Hort Center going to Milner. Oh yeah, yeah. So that's graphic design, of course, horticulture, agronomy, and soils. There's the Grant Walsh Artist Student Artist and Resident Program. That application comes out in January if you would like to apply to be a resident. Yeah, and that residency pays $1,500 for art. Yeah, that pays that plus supplies. Yeah, so a stipend. Very nice. So I mean, the center is open to students in any discipline. And professors, faculty, staff, community, and because I've reached out and like, what do you want. I'm sure though.  
 
Rachel: I was gonna say you'll put them to work regardless. 
 
Jessica: So if anything comes down to it, come out, learn about nature, the beauty, how it's going to relate to you. It, like you said, it's all encompassing and it touches all of our lives, and we may just take it for granted. 
 
Rachel: Yes, I love to learn more about, and obviously you can tell I am passionate. Maybe not as passionate as you are about nature, but nature is amazing. So thank you again. Maybe we could do that parade thing later.  
 
Jessica: Yeah, we’ll see. 
 
Rachel: And that was Department of Agriculture alum and director of the Horticulture Center, Jessica Chambers. Thanks for listening to Red Bird Buzz. Tune in next time for more stories from beyond the quad.