The “Mindful Garden Collective” is considered by some students to be a meditation space as well as a garden. The garden is located in the estuary adjacent to the Laney College sports facilities. It is maintained by student volunteers at Laney and coordinated by student volunteer Marley Benshalom. 
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. 
The other side of the garden is maintained and nurtured by a group called “New Roots.” Garden coordinator Zack Reidman says, “New Roots is one of two organizations working to help refugees and immigrants through empowerment. Immigrants and boot camp refugees from Burma and other areas help cultivate the are parents of current Laney students.
 “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.