Established 2014

Mission: 

• We come together to discover our shared sense of identity and connection
  with the natural world. We learn sustainable gardening practices, inspiring a more in-depth relationship with our food system.
• Further, we work to: expand curriculum into the garden through hands-on learning, develop connections within the community and the campus system of Penn State, and support campus food security.
• In the future, we hope to expand our garden and purchase a greenhouse as well as have the garden be used to grow food for the cafe on campus.

Beginnings:

• 2014 – Campus Garden was created through a collaboration with the Honors Program and the Campus Garden Manager, Emily Dozor.
• 2014-2020 – The campus garden is used in Biology classes and for community
  volunteers. 
• 2021 – The garden moves under the direction of Penn State Brandywine’s Center for Social Impact.
• 2022 – A grant enables the garden expansion to the current size of 50×75 feet of fenced in area with raised beds.

Accomplishments:

• Brandywine campus garden expansion completed with a ribbon-cutting ceremony | Penn State University (psu.edu)
• We donated 700 pounds of organic produce to the campus community and the Media Food Bank during the 2023 season.
• We have employed 6 student interns since 2022!
• We offered volunteer opportunities to over 300 students in 2023
• In 2022 and 2023, ten courses incorporated coursework involving the garden, including Biology, Health Psychology, and Civic and Community Engagement
• Collaboration with Vairo Library to create a “Seed Library”
• In 2023, we hosted a panel discussion, bringing
  together some of the foremost leaders in sustainable food systems.
• Have been gardening straight since 2014!
• Participation in Delaware County Tourism Bureau “Poppy Garden Project” (in recognition of US entry in WWI) 

Facilities: 

• Our garden is a 50×75 fenced in area with approximately 17 raised beds.

Administrative home:

• Our garden is run by the Center for Social Impact and our garden manager, Emily Dozor. Our previous administrative home was the Honors program.