
Benshalom is majoring in Social Sustainable Resources at Laney and was inspired to help nurture the garden because of her affiliation with the Alibaba spiritual community. The garden was created with the help of several former Laney students, staff, and faculty members; and Benshalom is inspired to continue by the current students and community participation in the project.
Student volunteer Katrina Totten says, “Putting your hands in the dirt is therapeutic, and relaxing for the spirit.” The student garden has not produced vegetables yet, due to the severe changes in the weather, but there are plans to distribute produce to members of community who need it and to the Laney food services department.

“They are able to take home as much produce as needed,” says Reidman. The students’ side of the garden is not fully developed, but it is currently in production.
Jean Low, a volunteer interpreter says, “I wanted to help, because I saw that some of the adult volunteers did not speak English and I speak both Chinese and English.” Most of the vegetable seeds are donated from the seed library or the community. The garden holds a guided mediation every Thursday at noon and a workday on Fridays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.