We’re excited to share highlights from a recent Sustainability Task Force (STF) biweekly meeting held at the Cowin Student Success Center, where students gathered for a hands-on sustainability activity centered on planting and community building. The session featured Isabella Trezza from the Gatehouse Garden, who guided participants through a planting workshop while sharing practical tips for plant care and everyday sustainable practices. Students planted tulips, hyacinths, and pothos while learning how simple acts of care, like tending to plants, can connect to broader ideas about sustainability and stewardship.

Many participants brought their own containers, adding a creative and resource-conscious dimension to the activity. As students worked with soil, water, and plants, the space gradually filled with conversation and collaboration. The process created a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere where participants could connect, exchange ideas, and take a moment of calm during a busy semester. Several students shared afterward that the activity “made their day,” highlighting how even small interactions with nature can bring a sense of calm and joy to campus life.

This gathering is one of many events organized by the Sustainability Task Force, a student-led initiative supported by the Center for Sustainable Futures (CSF). Through workshops, discussions, and collaborative activities, STF helps connect students with sustainability efforts across Teachers College while creating opportunities for the broader TC community to engage with environmental issues in practical and meaningful ways.