Isla Vista edible campus gardens report strong volunteer engagement, ask to maintain $30,000 allocation

The Isla Vista Community Services District on Monday received the Edible Campus Program’s annual community garden report, which said the program connected with roughly 2,700 students, engaged about 3,340 community members and mobilized more than 1,000 volunteers this past year.

Katie Maynard, director of student sustainability initiatives and adviser for the Edible Campus Program, told the board the program manages four gardens in and around Isla Vista and focuses on revitalizing underutilized spaces to grow free food and offer year‑round educational programming to residents.

“Edible Campus Program manages the IV Community Center garden and four other gardens in and around Isla Vista,” Maynard said. Staff described partnerships with the Ivy Community Services District, IV Compost Collective and St. Michael’s University Church that support bilingual workshops, compost donations and volunteer engagement.

Program staff reported annual metrics including 2,700 students reached via class announcements, 3,340 total engagements (students and non‑students), 617 non‑student community members participating in workshops, and 267 events hosted. Presenters said those interactions included monthly bilingual workshops and collaborations with local partners to reach Spanish‑speaking residents.

Presenters described infrastructure and pest challenges at the Methodist Community Garden, noting several garden beds have reached an eight‑year lifespan and that gophers and pest diseases (aphids and leaf disease) have prompted replacement and organic pest‑management measures. Engineers Without Borders built a solar‑powered irrigation system, staff said, and the Compost Collective’s donated compost reduced soil purchases.

On finances, staff said the program had originally proposed a $35,000 budget but the board approved $30,000; the program adjusted spending and used other funding sources to finish the year. To keep the request at $30,000 going forward, staff proposed reducing the number of positions funded by the Ivy Community Services District from four to three because of rising wages and water and trash costs.

Board members asked whether staff could provide Isla Vista–only impact figures separate from campus numbers; Maynard said the program tracks those figures and offered to provide the district with separation of campus and community counts.

Public commenters and faith‑community partners praised the gardens’ programming and volunteer opportunities. Dennis, speaking for the congregation that hosts one garden, described the project as a long‑standing partnership that has strengthened ties between students and neighborhood volunteers.

The board did not take formal action on the report and thanked staff for the presentation. Staff said they will provide the requested Isla Vista‑specific participation numbers and continue to monitor garden infrastructure and budget needs.