2022 Scripps Student Garden group photo
Scripps Student Garden

Located behind Browning, the Scripps Student Garden features seasonal fruit trees, planting beds, student murals, and study areas. The sustainability program supports two paid student garden coordinators.

Our student garden coordinators:

  • Maintain the space and host workshops, field trips, and harvest meals
  • Oversee the dorm composting program
  • Organize a weekly volunteer trip to Huerta del Valle at their Ontario farm
  • Connect with the 5C and local community

If you have questions or would like to get involved, follow the Scripps Student Garden on Instagram.

History:
The Browning north courtyard was historically designed as an orchard. Over time this area was modified and a concrete slab existed between the Platt wall and the brick patio north of Browning residence hall. In 2001, a student by the name of Megan Ritchie-Saffitz ‘01, who also served as a student representative on the Buildings and Grounds (B&G) committee, worked with the Grounds department to design a student garden where vegetables and herbs could be grown. The re-establishment of a small fruit orchard was also part of the design. The B&G committee was in support of this idea. During the same period in which Ritchie was spearheading the student garden creation, the Mary B. Eyre children’s school, once located on Scripps property at Dartmouth and Platt, was in the process of being relocated. The fireplace bricks from Mary B. Eyre, were brought to the garden and used to create the walkway between the planter boxes. Faculty, students, and staff donated funds for fruit trees that were planted in this space. The Grounds department worked with students to build the wooden structure supporting the original kiwi vine as well as the planters. The garden has been active since spring of 2001.