Campus Community Garden

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 health food, learn about sustainable organic garden practices and earn service learning hours.

Purpose

The garden is on a quarter acre of land and it includes multiple fruit trees, compost and gray water system, and many more. The garden exists to provide the SJSU students, staff and faculty 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. SJSU members would be able to bring home their produce 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 harvet 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.

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.
Practiced in our garden is composting and reuse of gray water. 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

We've temporarily put a pause on our volunteer opportunities in light of Shelter in Place. Stay updated by following us on Instagram (@sjsucccac) and subscribing to our Newsletter below.

Volunteers are welcome on first come first serve basis. For specific summer volunteer sessions, join the SJSU Campus Community Garden Facebook Group.
Keyword search 'SJSU Campus Community Garden'.

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

Request a Garden Tour, Project or Use the Space

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".

Events

FALL EQUINOX AND HARVEST FESTIVAL
Tuesday, September 22, 12-3pm
CCCAC IGTV Livestream
Celebrate the change of the season with a virtual fall foods cooking demo, garden tour, gratitude journaling, and a yoga sequence led by CCCAC Manager Diana Victa.

DIY HERBAL STRESS RELIEF KIT
Wednesday, September 30, 2:30-4pm
Register by 09/21 to receive supplies & Zoom link: bit.ly/Fall2020Events
Herbalist Kendra Payne of The Herbal Scoop approaches work through a decolonizing perspective. She will host an introduction to herbal medicine making and a hands-on DIY kit focused on stress reduction to help you better cope in these uncertain times.

DIY BEESWAX WRAP
Wednesday, October 7, 2-3pm
Register to receive Zoom link: bit.ly/Fall2020Events
Ditch the cling wrap and learn how to make your own beeswax wrap to keep food fresh. This event is in collaboration with the SJSU Office of Sustainability. Registered attendees will be eligible to get a home-made beeswax wrap mailed to them.

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE FILM: FOOD CHAINS
Wednesday, October 14, 4-6pm
Register to receive Zoom link: bit.ly/Fall2020Events
This documentary focuses on working conditions among migrant farmworkers in the United States. A short discussion will follow the screening.

DIY INDOOR HERB POT
Thursday, October 22, 12-12:30pm
CCCAC IGTV Livestream
Celebrate Campus Sustainability Month by learning how to combine your favorite herbs and leafy greens to make your own miniature indoor herb planter. Stay after the demo to get your gardening questions answered.
Free seed and soil! Bring your own container (at least 4” wide x 4” deep) to the garden on 10/19 and 10/20 from 10am-12pm.

COOKING WITH THE SJSU GARDEN
Tuesday, November 3, 12:30-1:30pm
CCCAC IGTV Livestream
Eating on a college budget can be hard! Learn what dishes you can make with what we’ve got growing in the garden. Hosted by Nutrition & Food Science Professor, Jamie Kubota, along with Wellness and Health Student Initiative Kitchen (WHISK).