Weber State University continues its campus sustainability initiatives through a student-managed community garden that provides fresh produce to the Weber Cares Pantry and the local community. The garden serves as a practical educational hub for students and volunteers to gain experience in horticulture, composting, and sustainable food production.
Seasonal Garden Operations
The Weber State Community Garden, located behind the Employee Wellness Annex (A29) on the northern edge of campus at 3650 Taylor Ave. in Ogden, operates on a seasonal cycle. According to Weber State University, the growing season is divided into four distinct phases to manage agricultural needs throughout the year.
From March through May, the garden focuses on the early-season phase, which includes planning, seed starting, and planting. The mid-season phase occurs from June through August and involves maintenance, harvesting, and July planting. The late-season phase, spanning September through November, is dedicated to harvesting and garden clean-up. During the off-season from December through February, the garden shifts toward workshops, planning, rest, and overwintering practices.
Volunteers working in the garden can gain practical experience in a horticultural setting and receive the first pick of produce. The university notes that volunteering days are scheduled on a case-by-case basis throughout the growing season. Interested individuals, including students looking to collect service hours or campus educators seeking research opportunities, are encouraged to contact the garden coordinator via email or through GivePulse.
Education and Community Involvement
The garden functions as an educational resource for sustainable living, providing guides on topics such as home gardening, composting, and crop gleaning. Weber State University offers specific resources for both garden and kitchen composting to help residents reduce food waste and implement sustainable practices in their own homes.
Alia Lawson, the Community Garden Coordinator and Garden Club President, manages the garden's activities and outreach. The university also encourages community support through donations to fund the garden's budget and improvements. Supporters can also contact the garden coordinator to donate extra equipment or plants to the program.
To stay informed about garden activities, the university suggests signing up for the Garden Club via GivePulse to receive monthly newsletters. The Garden Club also organizes hands-on gardening experiences and tours of other local gardens to provide community involvement and educational opportunities.
Integrating Sustainability into Careers
Beyond the physical garden, Weber State University emphasizes the importance of integrating sustainability into all professional fields. The Sustainability Practices and Research Center (SPARC) is dedicated to fostering a culture of sustainability that extends from the classroom into the professional workforce to develop responsible leaders.
University officials state that while sustainability-centered majors and minors are available, it is critical for all career paths—including business, education, health sciences, and the arts—to incorporate these principles. This approach is intended to address daily global issues and help professionals make informed decisions that contribute to a resilient world.
Sustainability at the university is defined through three interconnected pillars: environmental, social, and economic. Environmental sustainability focuses on the conservation of natural resources and ecosystems. Social sustainability aims to ensure fair social systems, while economic sustainability seeks to create systems that support long-term growth without damaging social or environmental factors.
Global Sustainability Frameworks
The university's curriculum and research efforts address the complexities of climate change, which the United Nations defines as long-term shifts in temperature and weather patterns. While such shifts can occur naturally due to solar activity or volcanic eruptions, the university notes that human activities have been the primary driver since the 1800s, largely due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas.
To combat misinformation regarding climate change, the university encourages students to use scientific evidence to research the causes and effects of environmental shifts. The institution promotes the concept of sustainable development, which is defined by the United Nations as meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
The university's sustainability framework aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which include targets such as No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Quality Education, Gender Equality, Clean Water and Sanitation, and Affordable and Clean Energy. Other goals include Decent Work and Economic Growth, Industry Innovation and Infrastructure, Reduced Inequality, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Responsible Consumption and Production, Climate Action, Life Below Water, Life on Land, Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, and Partnerships for the Goals.
Visitor Information
For visitors and volunteers, Weber State University provides specific parking guidance to ensure efficient access to the garden. While parking at the Employee Wellness Annex is limited and visitors are asked to limit their stay to one hour or less, free parking is available in the W4 and W5 lots during the summer months. The Dee Events Center Parking remains free year-round.
A Culture of Responsibility
By combining hands-on agricultural work with academic research and career integration, Weber State University seeks to instill a sense of responsibility in its students. The university maintains that even small, daily changes in individual behavior can build into significant differences for the environment.
