The Gibbs Site is home to the Gibbs Permaculture Research and Demonstration Site. The site serves as a living laboratory for students to implement their sustainable design solutions and projects. Located on Parkview Avenue adjacent to Western Michigan University's College of Engineering and the expansive Asylum Lake Preserve, the site features a developing permaculture landscape full of resources and projects. Jobs on the site enable students to conduct research and implement projects throughout the year. Past student projects have included black soldier fly larvae, post consumer food waste research and a compost hot water heater to heat the hoop houses. Current student projects include vermicomposting demonstration, aerated composting, pollinator way-stations and more.
Gibbs House
We host a variety of opportunities at the Gibbs House for volunteers, students and community members. Volunteers can expect to learn about permaculture, food forestry, vegetable gardening or composting!
Fall Hours * Pre-Registration Required
Volunteer at the Gibbs House every Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. starting Friday, Sept. 1, 2023. The volunteer hours are open so you can arrive and leave at any point or stay the entire time. Typically summer and fall are the busiest times for gardening. Students can also get WMU Signature credit for volunteering! *Due to parking and our current capacity, there is a daily cap of 20 volunteers per session. If you need to request another time to volunteer during the week, please email us at wmu-sustainability@wmich.edu.