Campus Community Garden

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.

** Please note that as of Fall 2025 we are under an agricultural quarantine for the Mediterranean fruit fly. To comply with CDFA guidelines and to aid the irradication efforts of this invasive species, we have paused harvesting of host species and closed our compost window temporarily. 

We do not use herbicides, pesticides or synthetic fertilizers at the garden, due to their impacts on human and environmental health. Furthermore, our garden is designed around the principles of permaculture and regenerative agriculture, meaning that we try to imitate the natural ecosystems and ecourage biodiversity. In the garden we have over sixty different plant species from perennial fruit trees and flowers to annual vegetable crops. Our garden ecosystem is a diverse urban habitat, with many species of 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.

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. 

For questions, please email ruby.howard@sjsu.edu with the subject line: "Project Request" or "Tours at the garden".

Check back in August for our fall garden events calendar.

Next Generation: Campus Community Garden Leadership Program

Applications are now closed. Please check back in October 2026 for more details. 

Next Generation: Campus Community Garden Leadership 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

• 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 for Students

• 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 scholarship 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
• Attend all Next Generation sessions to receive stipend

Please check back in October 2026 for application link. 

Mandatory Meeting Dates

Attendance for all sessions is required to receive the $1,000 scholarship.

Please check back in October 2026 for mandatory meeting dates. 

Questions? Contact Ruby Howard, Garden Coordinator, at ruby.howard@sjsu.edu.