Nestled in the east side of campus, past the classroom buildings and reflection ponds, lies California State University, Stanislaus’ own Sustainable Agriculture Studies Garden, filled with fruits, vegetables and crops that are donated to organizations both on and off of campus.
The sustainable garden is used primarily by Agriculture Studies students, including members of the Ag Ambassadors Club. According to the CSU,Stanislaus website, the grant that the Agriculture Studies program received from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is what allowed this garden to be built, with one of the three objectives being “to create a new instruction delivery system.” This means that students will be offered more “experiential learning opportunities” instead of having a lecture every day.
“It gives hands-on feedback in the classroom,” said Gardening Specialist Martin Hildebrandt. “The students are using both demonstration and experimentation here.”
So what is in this garden, exactly? 
“Hundreds of different things,” Hildebrandt said.
The most obvious being the tall corn crops, tomato plants, pumpkins, broccoli, eggplants, and the blossoming orchard that lines the far fence line. Certain crops are even separated by their geographical location, including the Asian, European, and Central American regions.
The garden also practices the key element of sustainability: recycling. The crops get their nutrition from compost and animal manure, and they are kept healthy through organic pest control and “beneficial insects.” 
“Certain crop families are kept together, such as tomatoes and plants that have common diseases,” Hildebrandt said. 
The crops also rotate each season through different sections of the garden so that dirt can be recycled.
Although crops such as peaches and plums are occasionally donated to Chartwells for use in the dining services on campus, the majority is donated to a much larger cause. 
“Last year, we sent over 2,000 pounds to the United Samaritans,” Hildebrandt said. 
Clearly, the sustainable garden is helping much more than just the environment.