Community Garden

The Palo Alto Community Garden opened in October of 2019 as a space to grow food, cultivate community, and improve food security for the greater Palo Alto Community. The Garden was funded as part of a five-year, $2.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education within the Project Impacto grant, which has supported various resources available through the College’s Student Health, Advocacy, Resource, and Engagement (S.H.A.R.E.) Center. The Community Garden is an addition to other campus initiatives to provide healthy food to students and the community, including the on-campus food pantry and biannual Food Fairs supported by the San Antonio Food Bank.

Our Mission

To engage the Palo Alto College community in activities and opportunities to improve food security and promote healthy lifestyles. The Garden aims to combat poverty and address obesity in the historically underserved South Side Community.

What We Do

The Community Garden is a space for students and community members to volunteer, to grow their own food, and to learn about gardening, composting, healthy living, and the numerous resources available to the South Side community. Through workshops, events, workdays, and other engagement opportunities, the Garden hopes to further its goals of educating and advocating for the greater Palo Alto Community.

Why We Do What We Do

Alamo Colleges District-Palo Alto College officially opened its new Community Garden to help combat food insecurity among students and the surrounding community. Many neighborhoods near the College are considered “food deserts” – areas lacking access to healthy, affordable food found at grocery stores and farmers markets. Programming at the Garden will include educational components to inform the community about nutrition and gardening techniques. Space will be available for community members to grow their own food and increase their food sovereignty.