Berkeley Campus Farm: Growing Student Food Security
DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT!
We're excited to announce a two-part matching gift opportunity!
Match #1: The first 15 donors to donate any amount will unlock a $15,000 match.
Match #2: Once we reach 30 donors, we'll unlock an additional $25,000 match.
Your gift, no matter the size, helps us reach this goal and supports our work at the Berkeley Campus Farm. Thank you to our BFI leadership group of donors for supplying the matching gifts.
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Right in the heart of Berkeley, just blocks from main campus, the Berkeley Campus Farm at the Oxford Tract is an acre of urban farmland where UC Berkeley students, community partners, and faculty put agroecology and climate-resilient farming into practice. The Berkeley Food Institute (BFI), in partnership with Berkeley Student Farms and our campus and community partners, has worked to revitalize this agricultural space as a living classroom, community gathering place, and source of fresh food in recent years, with leadership and guidance from BFI agroecology director, ab banks. Students learn by working directly on the land, from planting and tending crops to harvesting fresh produce and leading volunteers, while exploring how farming can support healthy communities and a more climate-resilient food system.
Each year, more than 2,000 students and community members participate in volunteer workdays, workshops, classes, and educational events at the Berkeley Campus Farm. The farm also employs 8-10 undergraduate student farmers and a graduate student agroecology fellow, providing paid opportunities to build skills and leadership in sustainable agriculture and community engagement.
Students and volunteers grow around 5,000 pounds of fresh, culturally relevant produce each year, with production increasing as the farm has grown. This food supports UC Berkeley students through the Basic Needs Center food pantry, and families in West Oakland through our partnership with People’s Programs. Through the Berkeley Campus Farm, hands-on student education is connected directly with efforts to address growing food insecurity on campus.
Your support will help sustain and grow the Berkeley Campus Farm by funding the annual costs that make this work possible. What will your gift support? Regardless of how much we raise, all gifts will go towards:
- Hands-on student training
- Seeds and farming supplies
- Educational workshops
- Volunteer programming
- Farm equipment
Every gift helps create more opportunities for students to learn, lead, and work on the land while increasing access to fresh, healthy food for their peers. All estimates are rough only, and actual expenditures may vary.
Thank you for your interest in supporting the Berkeley Campus Farm! You can contact BFI at foodinstitute@berkeley.edu with any questions.
$25
Digital Thank-You Card
Receive a digital thank-you card from the Berkeley Food Institute team, featuring a special message of gratitude for supporting hands-on learning, fresh food access, and the future of the Oxford Tract farm.
$100
Social Media Shoutout
We’re grateful for your support! Donors at this level will receive a special thank-you shoutout on Berkeley Food Institute’s social media channels.
$250
Personalized Thank You Video
Receive a personalized thank-you video from the Berkeley Food Institute team, created especially for you in appreciation of your support for the Oxford Tract and its community.
$500
Conversation with BFI's ED
Connect with BFI Executive Director Jeanne Merrill over a phone call for a personal conversation about the Oxford Tract, BFI’s work, and the impact of your support.
$1,000
Oxford Tract Farm Tour
Get an inside look at the Oxford Tract with a guided farm tour. Explore the farm, learn about the work happening onsite, and see firsthand how your support helps sustain this unique space for food production, community-building, and hands-on learning.
