In 2017-18, as part of our HNRS 161 first-year experience series a student project team developed the idea for a Campus Community Garden. The team worked with the campus sustainability coordinator and the honors director worked with Facilities and the Campus Planning Committee to find a location for the garden and to request the necessary approvals.  Eventually, the lawn area in front of the campus Health Center was approved for the garden.  During this process, Campus Health & Wellbeing became a partner given their interest in the project and proximity of the approved garden site to their offices and the Cal Poly Food Pantry. During 2018-19, a second honors first-year experience project team worked on this project to finalize a garden design and begin construction.  The group and a team of student, staff, and faculty volunteers constructed the garden at the end of the school year in 2019. 

Over the last 2 years, the Community Garden’s primary focus has been to support Cal Poly’s Food Pantry. As such the garden changed its name to Campus Food Pantry Garden. In 2021-22 the Director of the Basic Needs Initiative assumed the role of managing the garden. Honors continues to support paid student assistants to assist with supporting the garden specifically with social media and educational programming.

Honors Garden Assistants 2025-26

Maleah Townsend (she/her) 

Sophia Yarrow (she/her)