University of Connecticut
IN-7: Community Garden

UConn Community Garden, previously known as EcoGarden, is a community garden space within the Mansfield Community Gardens. Originally a student run club it is now a satellite location of the Spring Valley Student Farm. It has university support as well as student leadership. Students are able to volunteer to maintain and support the garden. The garden primarily includes permaculture and edible perennial plantings, including blackberries, raspberries, grapes, aronia berries, hazelnuts, Asian pears, elderberries, horseradish, and more. The garden has recently earned an Environmental and Social Sustainability Grant (ESSG) through the Office of Sustainability to “Bring the Buzz Back to UConn Community Garden.” There will be a focus on creating an accessible beekeeping space within the garden. They also received a ESSG grant in 2022-2023 to reimagine the community garden space. During the 20023 Spring Semester they hosted multiple community service days at the garden that encouraged students to assist with garden projects.  They incorporated trail kiosk signs and information signage throughout the garden to serve as educational opportunities. They also purchased and planted native plants to increase native and woody perennial plants in the garden. In the summer of 2024 they plan to allow garden plots that any UConn student, faculty, or staff can utilize.  

Infornmation about UConn Community Garden's Environmenta and Social Sustainability Grant in Spring 2024 and Fall 2022:  

https://sustainability.uconn.edu/environmental-social-sustainability-grants-program/