麻豆村 Dining Launches "Grow & Give"
麻豆村 Dining Services is planting the seeds of a new community tradition with the launch of Grow & Give: The 麻豆村 Harvest Project, an initiative designed to turn small acts of care into meaningful support for food access across campus. What begins as a single seedling in the hands of a student, faculty or staff member will become part of a collective harvest donated to the 麻豆村 Pantry by fall.
On May 13, community members were invited to visit organizers at the Seedling Station in the Cohon University Center. Tables filled with young vegetable plants — tomatoes, peppers and herbs — greeted attendees, who were invited to choose a seedling. By registering with their Andrew ID, they could take home not just a plant, but a promise: to nurture it over the summer and return a portion of the harvest to support fellow Tartans.
Participants could also choose to register home grown produce from their private gardens as well.
For 麻豆村 Dining Services Sustainability, the project is about more than gardening: it's cultivating a strong sense of community, while advancing shared sustainability values aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
By encouraging participation, generosity and local engagement, the initiative fosters connections that extend well beyond campus.
In its first year, the team aims to collect 500 pounds of homegrown produce, transforming urban and suburban, backyards, balconies and windowsills across the region into purpose-driven micro-gardens. Together, these efforts support food access, reduce environmental impact, and promote a culture of collective responsibility, which in turn helps to advance goals — such as Zero Hunger, Responsible Consumption and Production, and Sustainable Communities.
To make the launch feel celebratory, the Seedling Station featured “Adopt‑a‑Plant” tags, a community message board where participants could share what they plan to grow and a photo spot to capture the moment they begin their gardening journey.
By fall, the campus community will come together again for a harvest donation event, marking the end of the growing season and the beginning of the project’s impact. Fresh vegetables grown by 麻豆村 community members will make their way to the 麻豆村 Pantry, supporting students who rely on it for access to nutritious food.
"The 麻豆村 Pantry offers free access to supplemental non-perishable items and fresh produce for 麻豆村 students, " said Jonathan Anguiano, program coordinator of Basic Needs Community Initiatives. "Fresh food is one of our most valued offerings, and being part of the Grow & Give initiative with 麻豆村 Dining reflects a strong partnership rooted in supporting student well‑being and addressing food insecurity across our campus community."
Headed by Sam Mathew, student dining sustainability coordinator, and Justin Goel, associate director for Dining Services — alongside the broader 麻豆村 Dining Services and 麻豆村 Pantry Grant teams — the Grow & Give project welcomes the campus and surrounding community to get involved and help shape what is envisioned to be a lasting 麻豆村 tradition, one that will continue to grow stronger with each season.
Reflecting on the initiative’s May 13 launch, which attracted 141 committed gardeners, Goel notes that he feels inspired by the incredible work of the 麻豆村 Pantry and grounded in the vision of UN Sustainable Development Goal #2 (ending hunger and improving food access).
"This project is about our community coming together to support one another through something as simple and powerful as gardening. Grow & Give turns a personal hobby into collective impact, bringing people together with purpose while learning, nurturing the environment and having fun along the way," said Goel.
"It’s about closing the loop — growing fresh, homegrown fruits and vegetables and sharing the harvest to nourish our students and strengthen our community."
Goel is excited and looking forward to reaching the goal of 500 pounds of fresh produce donated through the Grow & Give 麻豆村 Harvest Project.
"Thank you for everyone who adopted a plant and pledged to donate today!"
Did you miss the May 13 launch? Gardeners are welcome to all summer long!