From Campus to Kitchen: How Student Volunteers Are Growing Food and Community

Situated on the Dr. Lloyd Barber Academic Green is the Regina Public Interest Research Group (RPIRG) Green Patch, a community garden that just last year grew and donated more than 3,000 pounds of fresh produce. 

Working in partnership with the University of Regina, Carmichael Outreach, and the Regina Food bank, the Green Patch is a strong example of how community collaboration can create meaningful impact both on and off campus.

It’s not always donating your money but donating your work. That makes us as students feel like what we’re doing has impact.” — Rose Montazer, first-year Business Administration student, University of Regina

RPIRG partnered with the University in 2012 to establish the Green Patch.

“We realized there was a shortage of fresh produce in the Carmichael Outreach kitchen. From that, an idea came into play for this empty space,” says Tayef Ahmed, RPIRG Executive Director. 

Located at the heart of the university campus, the Green Patch is surrounded by thousands of students, faculty, and staff who are eager to learn, share knowledge, and contribute to the garden’s success.   

Each year, RPIRG welcomes summer student volunteers from the U of R to help support the garden while giving students an opportunity to get their hands dirty and learn all about growing food.

For student volunteers, it also gives them the chance to extend their learning beyond the classroom.

“It’s a win-win situation because I’m learning and I’m helping the community at the same time,” says Rose Montazer, first-year Business Administration student, University of Regina. 

The partnership between the U of R and RPIRG is a longstanding symbol of one of the five principles that makes up the University’s new strategic plan, Together, We Build, which reflects the University’s commitment to becoming one of Canada’s most community-connected universities. 

The active partnership has seen the garden plot grow alongside the number of volunteers, produce, and overall scope of the Green Patch.

“Over the last few years our garden has expanded, so we have a lot more vegetables than Carmichael can take,” explains Ahmed. “Last year for example, we donated to the YWCA. This year we’ve partnered with Regina Food Bank and for the last three years we’ve been donating to the Riddell Centre Community Fridge almost daily.”

Growing a community

The garden’s continuous growth has allowed RPIRG and the U of R to host regular community-driven events such as workshops, garden tours, and seed programs. Today, the Green Patch is a place where anyone in the U of R community can access fresh produce or the tools to start their own garden.

“If anyone from the university needs some vegetables or herbs, they can send us an email or come say hi anytime in the afternoon,” says Ahmed. “We want to share knowledge, resources, and extra plants. We want to help the community out as much as possible.”

For student volunteers, the Green Patch offers more than gardening experience. It provides an opportunity to build tangible skills while giving making a difference in the community.

Visit the RPIRG website to learn more about the Green Patch and potential volunteering opportunities.

“It’s not always about donating your money but donating your work. That makes us as students feel like what we’re doing has impact,” says Montazer.

On track to grow more than 3,000 pounds of food again this year, the RPIRG Green Patch continues to cultivate more than produce, nurturing learning, community, and connections.

Banner image: Volunteers stand with the produce they harvested from the Green Patch. Photo credit: RPIRG