jbs HCI Community Garden

Since 2017, the jane b semel Healthy Campus Initiative (jbs HCI) Community Garden has served over 500 plotholders and has launched three certificate programs, enrolling over 200 participants to date. The garden has played a role in mobilizing student responses around food insecurity on campus, by encouraging garden community members and plotholders to donate produce to the UCLA Community Programs Office (CPO) Food Closet. Bringing researchers, faculty, practitioners, and advocates across campus together helps catalyze community-based participatory research projects that promote access to freshly grown local produce across Los Angeles.

How to Get Involved with the Garden

Location & Hours

Plotholders
The garden offers 31 free-to-use raised beds to all organizations, groups, and individuals interested in gardening! Prospective plotholders are encouraged to apply in both the summer and fall quarters, and work on their assigned plot for the academic year (or summer) along with a group of other gardeners. Becoming a plotholder gives you free access to resources including soil, seeds, tools, and compost, and connects you with the help and expertise of the garden team.
Workshops
During the academic year, we offer biweekly educational and hands-on workshops taught by seasoned UC Master Gardeners, with topics encompassing everything from Beginner Gardening to Smoke-Starting Native Seeds. These free workshops are a great way to learn more about gardening, stretch your horticultural skills, and meet the UCLA and garden community no matter your skill level!

Spring 2025 Workshops: 10-11am on April 12, April 26, May 10, & May 24
- April 12: Planning Your Garden (RSVP)
- April 26: Getting Started (RSVP)
- May 10: Pest Management (RSVP)
- May 24: Harvesting (RSVP)
Drop-In Hours
All are welcome to join us in the garden during our weekly drop-in “office hours,” where a garden coordinator is eager to answer questions, give tours of the garden, and help plotholders with their plots! For non-plotholders interested in getting their hands dirty, we’re always looking for a little more help with weeding, watering, and planting seedlings.

Spring 2025 Drop-In Hours:
- Mondays from 2pm to 6pm
- Tuesdays from 5:30pm to sunset
- Wednesdays from 2pm to 5pm
Collaborations
The garden hosts numerous large and small events throughout the year, ranging from volunteer days to private workshops to garden tours. Please contact us (hcigardens@ucla.edu) if you’re interested in collaborating with us on an event in the garden, or if you’d like a member of our team to attend an event of your own!

The garden is located within Sunset Canyon Recreation Center at 111 Easton Cir, Los Angeles, CA 90024.

Click here for Sunset Rec hours and inquiries!

“The value of the jbs garden lies not only in its food production, but in its ability to foster education and community… learning how our food is grown and seeing that first hand in the garden is one of the many pieces needed in the fight for food justice.”

Ally Steinleitner2021-2022 jbs HCI Community Garden Coordinator