When Christine Haar moved into her house in the city, she didn’t realize she would have to figure out a different way to plant her garden.

“I live on Sand Ridge Road, and yes, it is surrounded by sand, so I understand how difficult it can be to grow with different materials,” said Haar, coordinator and director of dietetics at the University.

She explained the different ways to grow fruits and vegetables to a group of curious residents and students through a powerpoint presentation on Tuesday night at the Family and Consumer Sciences Building.

Some of the audience members said they wanted to learn about unfertilized soil, how to grow plants inside, how to grow plants in a pot for the wintertime and how to grow plants in a vertical pot.

“Clay soil, sand and soil all require different attention because they are all different,” Haar explained to the audience. “You also have to make sure the type of pot is used. If you use a wooden one —be careful there aren’t chemicals embedded in them.”

Harr completed a Master Gardener program a few years ago that she said helped advise and educate her on different ways to plant vegetable gardens.

“There are many factors that go into growing gardens people don’t realize,” Haar said. “I like to play around in my yard to experiment.”

Haar asked the audience members why they attended and what they wanted to learn.

Sophomore Jaryt Salvo was curious if there was an easier way to grow plants.

“People have pills and vitamins; is there any way we can just crush up some of those pills to sprinkle on the plants to avoid all of this?”

Haar told Salvo she would be interested in this research.

Brittany Roth, graduate student coordinator, planned this event as part of a series to inform students about healthier and cheaper ways to eat.

“Some students think they have to buy expensive healthy food, but it is actually cheaper to grow or buy your own fruits and vegetables, which is one reason this session was planned,” Roth said.

Roth planned a hands-on cooking event and a grocery store trip during the last two weekends.

“We received feedback from a study last semester and students wanted to actually learn how to cook, “ Roth said. “I think these sessions are good resources for students and residents to use.”

Salvo agreed and thought this session was helpful for his future.

“I enjoy trying new things and I like to produce for myself, so I definitely thought this session would be useful for my life,” Salvo said.