About

Approximately 23.5 million people in the United States lack access to healthy food within a mile of their home

As part of the multidisciplinary Growing Food in the City project at California State University, Los Angeles, the Urban Food Garden on campus integrates science, technology, and history to examine how to best sustainably grow food in Southern California. It is through the support of a USDA grant that graduate students in these various fields have been given research opportunities to study the aims of this project. Such studies include historical research to distinguish between plants native to Southern California and climate-adapted species introduced to the region. In addition, the historical ethnobotanical practices of Southern Californian Indigenous and Immigrant communities were researched. Also experimented with has been the use of polyculture farming methods that are effective tools in managing water supplies, restoring degraded soils, increasing carbon storage and the local pollinator count, and reducing heat in the city by providing shade. In time a curriculum will be developed that focuses on the science and history of urban agriculture, water management, nutritional health, and the environment in the natural, social, and health sciences. Additionally, by working alongside the gardening club on-campus students will be provided with the training necessary to participate in and contribute to urban agriculture and food processing industries.

Edible Urban Garden

Our edible garden is a vehicle through which our students will gain first-hand experience of urban gardening practices, water management, plant ecology, nutrition, and the history of urban agriculture.

Want to connect with the Edible Urban Garden club? Contact us:
[email protected]