Campus Gardens

Gardens

Our campus is a living classroom. PSU's student-focused gardens offer opportunities to learn about plant care, habitat restoration, community building, food production, cultural diversity, and much more.

Campus Gardens

Smith Gardens

Smith Gardens include three gardens: the Permaculture Garden and the Food Pantry Garden on the west side, and the Grazing Garden on the South side. You’ll find a mix of native, medicinal, and edible species in this space.

Open hours: All hours.
Contact: SSC, gardens@pdx.edu

Community Orchard

Stroll through 30+ species of fruit trees. This space mimics the processes of natural systems.

Open hours: During scheduled work parties and by appointment.
Contact: Student Sustainability Center, gardens@pdx.edu

Native American Student and Community Center

A fully-accessible path traversing through seven rooftop beds of native plants. Native plants with medicinal and cultural uses also cover the I-405 overpass, SW of NASCC.

Open hours: Rooftop garden and Deerwalk: from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on weekdays with pleasant weather

Contact: Reach out to divinity@pdx.edu to get involved.

Oak Savanna

Since 2011, students have advocated for this area to be designated as a campus greenspace. The envisioned Oak Savanna is dedicated to the relationship between the First Peoples and the native vegetation of oak savannas.

Open hours: All.
Contact: Student Sustainability Center, gardens@pdx.edu or 503-725-5598.

Learning Gardens Laboratory (LGL)

The Learning Gardens Lab (LGL) supports academic achievement, leadership development, and local sustainable food systems.

Open hours: During regular scheduled work parties and by arrangement.
Contact: Leadership for Sustainability Education program, lglvolunteer@gmail.com.

Students work on campus apiary, supporting bees.

Garden Safety

Garden during the daytime.Be aware of your surroundings.

Garden with at least one other person.

Be careful of unexpected debris and objects while working in gardens.

Identify each item before you touch it. If you are uncertain about an item, leave it alone.

Wear closed-toe shoes and PPE when necessary.

Seed Library

Learn more about our free seeds and seed exchange program at PSU, located in Smith Memorial Student Union.

Check out seeds from the library
Plant the seeds
Cultivate the plants
Harvest seeds from the plants you grew
Return some of these next generation seeds to the library for others to borrow.

But don’t worry—there aren't any fines if you don’t return seeds.

Donating seeds back to the library is completely optional, although it’s much appreciated since donations are what keep the library stocked.
The library is located at the Student Sustainability Center. Our address is:
Smith M104
1825 SW Broadway
Portland, Oregon 97201

Read more about open hours on our Contact Us page.

How to borrow seeds

Get a manila envelope for your seeds.
Remove the seed packet you want from the catalog.
Remove 2-3 seeds for each plant you want to grow from the packet and put in the manila envelopes provided.
Write seed information on your envelope.
Complete a checkout form so we can track library use.

Many thanks to the organizations who have helped support our seed library! The organizations include: Portland Nursery, Territorial Seed Company, Seed Savers Exchange, Strictly Medicinal Seeds, Botanical Interests, High Mowing Organic Seeds, Ferry-Morse, and Learning Gardens Lab.

How to donate seeds

We are always looking for more seeds to share with the community. You can donate your seeds at our office or send them by mail to:

Portland State University,

Student Sustainability Center,

P.O. Box 751,

Portland, OR 97207-0751

You can also fill out a donation form at the seed library or online. Please share any of the following information you have for the seeds:

Common name
Variety
Scientific name
Seed source
Location of harvest
Year of harvest
Planting and care instructions