Dean Vergara | Staff Writer

The Ruth Cooper Community Garden of Riverside City College is now open.

Students, alumni, faculty, and residents of the Riverside community gathered Saturday evening, Sept. 21, to celebrate the culmination of over two years of planning, collaborative effort, and arduous work.

Dr. Virginia White, associate professor of Life Sciences at RCC, said the creation of the garden will give students and the community an opportunity “to learn how to grow.”

The Garden is located adjacent to the Math and Science Building and the Library Learning Resource Center.

The space the garden now occupies was once a parking lot.

Now it will serve as an educational resource and a way to foster community engagement through promoting a healthy and sustainable lifestyle and community.

Already, the garden has inspired action.

Volunteers like RCC Student Sustainability Collective President, Daniel Cannon, and RCC staff member, Jim Huang, spent upwards of 150 hours over the summer sprouting seeds and digging to prepare the garden.

The majority of financial support for the garden was through donations by individuals, local organizations and businesses; though it was
partially funded by the school and ASRCC. Major benefactors include The Wood Streets Green Team, Calvary Presbyterian, Corona Tools, Burrtec, and the West Municipal Water District.

Among over 20 types of plants found in the garden are zucchini, eggplant, pomegranate trees, apple trees, and an assortment of herbs.

Empty plots are also available to rent for interested gardeners.