About
The Rutgers Gardens Student Farm (RGSF) is both a vibrant local food source and a living laboratory, providing experiential learning and research opportunities for Rutgers students interested in small-scale organic farming.
Also a resource for beginner and established farmers, the RGSF provides workshops for community building, technical assistance, and training for prospective organic growers.
Student farmers, under the guidance of Rutgers Gardens staff, grow and harvest diversified, seasonal vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Operating since 2016 at Rutgers Gardens and now growing on approximately two acres of fields, the RGSF shares an abundant harvest through three primary distribution outlets: the Rutgers Community Farmers Market, a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, and donations to local emergency food providers.
Community Supported Agriculture Program
The CSA Program operates from May through November with share pickups available at the Rutgers Community Farmers Market on Fridays at Rutgers Gardens, plus our newly added market day at the College Avenue Student Center on the Rutgers—New Brunswick campus on Thursdays. Stay tuned for additional December dates at Rutgers Gardens.
The Rutgers Gardens Student Farm is still accepting CSA sign-ups! Enroll in the 2025 CSA and select your desired share size. Payments can be made by cash, check, or credit card in-person at either farmer’s market location.
There are four share sizes available, each with a bonus for participating. If you’re running low on credits, you may add additional money to your share at any time during the season. Please note that unused CSA credits do not roll over from year to year.
$200 (5% bonus- $210 starting balance)
$350 (10% bonus- $385 starting balance)
$500 (15% bonus- $575 starting balance)
$750 (20% bonus- $900 starting balance)
The RGSF uses a choice model for its CSA program: you choose what you would like at the market stand any time you shop, and your account is debited for the cost of the fresh vegetables and herbs you select. Your balance is updated weekly, and you can ask a student farmer for your current balance any time. Remaining CSA account balances at the end of the year will support donations of produce to the Rutgers Student Food Pantry.
CSA members receive a special e-newsletter featuring student perspectives, recipes, and what freshly harvested items you can expect at upcoming markets.
Follow the RGSF on Instagram @rutgersstudentfarm to see what the students are growing and harvesting each week. For farmers market updates, visit the Rutgers Community Farmers Market website and follow their team on Instagram!
The Rutgers Gardens Student Farm in the Community
Starting in 2019, the RGSF partnered with the Rutgers Student Food Pantry to provide fresh weekly produce deliveries for food-insecure members of the campus community. These vegetables can now be found at the Rutgers Basic Needs Center, which provides Rutgers students with access to free or low-cost nutrient-dense food. The farm also donates produce to the Middlesex County REPLENISH food bank and to the Meals on Wheels of Greater New Brunswick program.
Student farmers are part of the 15-week Rutgers Gardens Student Internship Program. These paid farm positions offer Rutgers students in any major the opportunity to learn about vegetable production, local food justice, community outreach, and more, by helping with all aspects of small-scale organic farming from seeding to sale.
The Rutgers Gardens team also manages an Urban Agriculture Program with community gardens and urban farm plots on two Rutgers—New Brunswick campus locations.
In 2024, the Rutgers Gardens Student Farm became a partner of the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Regional Partnership for Organic Transition, and hosts a series of workshops and educational events to support existing and potential organic producers. While the Student Farm has been growing diversified vegetables using all organic methods for years, the farm has not been certified as organic. Since joining the Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP), the RGSF has begun its own journey towards becoming a USDA certified organic producer. Visit the Student Farm’s TOPP webpage to learn more and to see what TOPP events, resources, and workshops are available.