Campus Community Garden

Garden Volunteers

SPRING 2024 HOURS

The garden is open and thriving from our summer heat!

January 30 - May 17

Volunteer Hours:
January 30 - May 17
Tuesdays 11am-2pm, Saturdays 9am-11am, & Fridays (Starting in April) 10am-1pm.
Please register at https://linktr.ee/SJSUGarden.

Open Hours:
January 30 - May 17; Tuesdays 8am - 3pm

Who We Are

In 2014, the SJSU Campus Community Garden was established as a result of a student-led initiative. The garden was created to provide students a space to gain access to healthy food, learn about sustainable organic garden practices and earn service learning hours.

The garden is located at 372 E. San Salvador Street (across from the Dining Commons)

Purpose

The garden is on a quarter acre of land and it includes multiple fruit trees, compost and gray water system. The garden exists to provide the SJSU students, staff, faculty, and the surrounding community with an opportunity to participate in food justice, accessibility to fresh and healthy food while engaging in cultural exchange and cooperation. While at the garden, SJSU members learn the ins and outs of a maintaining a small garden. SJSU members will learn how to harvest, prune, water and seed vegetable starts in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way. Garden volunteers are allowed to take home produce harvested after a workday!

The community garden is a place where students can learn and participate in the process of growing food sustainably, but it does not end there! Students can also harvest and enjoy organic, free, and locally grown produce. This space provides a place for student initiative, cooperation and cultural exchange using the growing of food as an exploration of community involvement.

Summer Video Update

Sunflower

Garden Events Calendar Spring '24

Roots of Resilience: Breaking Through Food Apartheid
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20 - 1:30PM-3:30PM
Join us in the garden to learn about food apartheid and the work of creating a just food system.

C.H.I. Month: UFW Day of Action Volunteer Day
TUESDAY, MARCH 26 - 11AM-1PM
Join us in the garden to learn about the United Farm Workers and their current goals and efforts to protect and uplift farmworkers. Learn how we as students can be a part of this movement.

Garden Mindscape
FRIDAY, APRIL 12 - 11AM-1PM
Join us in the garden for a fun workshop on making candles and supporting our mental health and wellness in the outdoors.


EARTH DAY; “Planet vs. Plastics!”
THURSDAY, APRIL 18 - 10AM-2PM
Hosted by the Environmental Resource Center (ERC). Join us on Towel Lawn with dozens of other organizations and clubs working towards a greener future.

EARTH DAY CLIMATE CAFE
FRIDAY APRIL 19 - 10AM - 1PM
Join us in the garden for conversations and storytelling around climate change. It will be a safe space to engage with your fears, anxieties, hopes, and dreams in a future with climate change. 

GARDEN MOVIE NIGHT: The Biggest Little Farm
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24 - 8PM-10PM
Join us in the garden for our annual showing of The Biggest Little Farm, a heart-warming movie about regenerative agriculture in Southern California.

Sustainability at the Garden

The community garden is chemical free (organic) which means that we do not use any pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. Furthermore, our garden is designed around the principles of permaculture and regenerative agriculture, meaning that we try to imitate the natural process. In the garden we have over sixty different plant species from perennial fruit trees and flowers to annual vegetable crops. Our garden ecosystem is diverse with multiple pollinators and creatures.
We have our own composting and gray water system that allows us to reuse and reduce our organic waste. Everything is incorporated into our garden again using sustainable methods.

Volunteering at the Garden 

Volunteers are welcome on first come first serve basis. To reserve your spot for volunteer days, please sign up here: linktr.ee/sjsugarden.

We encourage students to bring a water bottle and a grocery bag or container to help transport harvest from the garden.

Volunteers gardening

Request a Garden Tour, Project, or Use the Space (Program Closed Until Further Notice)

Interested in bringing your staff or classroom to the garden? Want to do a class project related to sustainability and food? Come to the campus community garden!

Groups bigger than 4 must fill out a Campus Community Garden Request Form to reserve space. Please note that this is a request, not a confirmation. All requests will be reviewed. A follow up email will be sent between 3-5 business days after the request has been submitted. Please submit your requests at least 5 weeks in advance.

For faster inquiries, please email sjsucommunitygarden@gmail.com with the subject line: "Project Request" or "Tours at the garden".

Next Generation: Garden Fellowship

Next Generation: The Campus Community Garden Fellowship Program offers students an opportunity to dive into the topic of environmental justice efforts that ties into scholarship, intersectionality, and practicality. Throughout this program, students will learn and network with experts in the environmental justice movements with a focus on intersectionality such as race, gender, class, etc. Additionally, students will receive hands-on experience on how to include environmental justice practices  in their everyday lives through learning basic gardening and environmental justice skills at the campus community garden. 

LEARNING OUTCOMES/BENEFITS FOR STUDENTS 

  • Students will gain a deeper understanding of environmental justice issues impacting marginalized communities through observation and learning from experts.
  • Students will  find their agency and authentic voice by expressing their needs and experiences through our programs and events. 
  • Students will feel empowered to explore their passions and further gain confidence in leadership.
  • Students will enhance their critical thinking skills by examining and challenging personal acts of oppression, identify and articulate the values and processes that lead to an inclusive and democratic community, and encourage students to take action in their local and global communities.
  • Students will gain an understanding of how to work with and advocate for marginalized communities. 
  • Students will have a clear understanding of how to be environmental justice philanthropists and advocates in both personal and professional lives. 

BENEFITS 

  • Gain a deeper understanding of environmental justice issues 
    Develop confidence in leadership skills 
  • Meet students with similar passions and interests in environmental justice 
    Learn basic gardening/farming skills
  • Earn $1,000 stipend after successful completion of the program 

QUALIFICATIONS

As long as you're passionate about environmental justice and can articulate that in the essay section, you are qualified for the program!  

Other qualifications: 
Good academic standing 
GPA of 2.5 and higher 
Good conduct standing

Application Link: Applications for Spring 2024 are now closed. Check back in during November 2024 for the 2025 applications

IMPORTANT DATES 

Friday, October 20: Applications open
Friday November 17th: Applications Close
Tuesday, November 21: Acceptance letters sent out
Wednesday, November 29: Students Commitment to program

MANDATORY MEETING DATES

**ATTENDANCE FOR ALL SESSIONS IS REQUIRED TO RECEIVE THE $1,000 STIPEND

Retreat: Friday, February 9, 10:00am-3:00pm
Session 1: Friday, February 16, 9:00am-12:00am, Volunteering: 12-2pm
Session 2: Friday, February 23, 9:00am-12:00pm,Volunteering: 12-2pm
Session 3: Friday, March 1, 9:00am-12:00pm, Volunteering: 12-2pm
Session 4: Friday, March 8, 9:00am-12:00pm, Volunteering: 12-2pm
Celebration: Friday, March 15, 12-2pm, Volunteering: 10am-12pm

Questions?
Contact Matthew Mangoni, Garden Coordinator, at matthew.mangoni@sjsu.edu. This event is wheelchair accessible. Please contact Matthew at the soonest for any sign language interpreter or other accommodation requests.


 

 

Subscribe to our Monthly Newsletter!

* indicates required
/ ( mm / dd )

View previous newsletters

 

Follow Us on Instagram

@sjsugarden