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The Giving Garden at the University of Washington Tacoma strives to eliminate food insecurity among students by connecting them back to their food system through hands on experience with fresh food, grown by students, for students. Through its partnership with The Pantry at UW Tacoma, the university’s on-campus food bank, the garden is able to deliver local produce directly to students in need. The Giving Garden makes space for community through volunteer opportunities, events, and by connecting people to nature and agriculture in Tacoma’s urban core. The Giving Garden stands as a hub for sustainability, research and demonstration for the larger community.
GET INVOLVED WITH THE GARDEN
The Giving Garden’s motto that it is a program and space to Learn, Grow, and Gather comes directly from the innate co-curricular nature of a university learning garden like ours. The Husky community is what created this space, and we look forward to growing with this campus.
What should we do next? Contact the Giving Garden Coordinator with inquiries.
Volunteer with Us
Each quarter we host open volunteer hours where anyone can come by the garden and help out. These hours change quarterly to accommodate our student employee's schedules. Supervised by at least one of our staff, tasks generally include: weeding, watering, planting, and harvesting. Other tasks may arise depending on garden needs. Gloves and tools are provided and some physical accommodations can be made. Cancelations are subject to happen occasionally, so please check out our DubNet events page or our Instagram story for those announcements before visiting.
The University of Washington is committed to providing access and accommodation in its services, programs, and activities. To make a request connected to a disability or health condition contact Clare Tupper at cmt373@uw.edu one week before an event.
Bed Adoption
We are so excited to announce the return of the bed adoption program at the Giving Garden. A small portion of raised beds at the Giving Garden are now open for adoption for free to UWT Students at a first come first serve basis. Visit the Surveys & Forms on the Giving Garden Dubnet for more information and application form.
Course Collaborations
The Giving Garden is a wonderful place to hold outdoor and hands-on classes. If you are interested in utilizing the garden for your class, project, or lab, please contact the Giving Garden Coordinator, Clare Tupper. We welcome all types of educational experiences in this campus green space but request any utilization be communicated beforehand.
Project Proposal Form
The Giving Garden has a proud history of fostering hands-on educational opportunities by collaborating with students and faculty on academic projects and research. We aim to expand these efforts by creating a more streamlined process for all involved. To ensure all appropriate parties are contacted with ample time to address projects that could involve UWT Facilities, the Chancelor, or Environmental Health and Services, we have created a project proposal form. Any student interested in conducting academic research or a project with the Giving Garden should fill out this form. Depending on your answers to this form, you will be directed to the appropriate parties. We recommend this form be filled out at least one month before anticipated start date of project/research work.
Upcoming Events
Each Quarter the Giving Garden hosts at least one volunteer and/or social event where we like to tackle some larger project or just enjoy the greenspace! These events are a great way to enjoy the outdoors while meeting new people and serving your community. Gloves, tools, and sometimes snacks are provided at these events.
Fall Quarter
Stay tuned for our next event!
Campus & Community Engagement
The Giving Garden’s motto that it is a program and space to Learn, Grow, and Gather comes directly from the innate co-curricular nature of a university learning garden like ours. The Husky community is what created this space, and we look forward to growing with this campus. What should we do next? Contact the Giving Garden Coordinator with inquiries.
As an Urban Serving University, the Giving Garden seeks to be connected to our community's needs and aspirations. Many of the events and activities at the Giving Garden are open to the community to attend. Our garden is intended to be a green space for all to enjoy and engage with, and we owe much of our garden’s growth in infrastructure and programming to our amazing community partners.
Are you a community partner looking to foster community outreach? We have our community to thank for so much at the Giving Garden from volunteer events, art installations, and the construction of our SHED to educational events on tree pruning, hoop house demonstrations, and the installation of Lushootseed language signage throughout our Native Plant Walk. We welcome all ideas to grow in this garden! Please contact Giving Garden Coordinator, Clare Tupper with inquiries on how to collaborate with our program!
Check out some of our amazing work thanks to our campus and community partners!
SUPPORT THE GARDEN
Over the last few years, the Giving Garden has adopted the motto “A Place to Learn, Grow, and Gather” because we have built something that is more than a garden — it’s a lifeline, it’s an opportunity, and it’s our community. As food costs rise and more students face food insecurity, the garden provides fresh, healthy produce to help meet immediate needs while creating a hands-on learning space rooted in sustainability, environmental justice, and community care.
Your gift today directly funds materials required to maintain and run this program such as seeds, tools, infrastructure, student support, etc., to keep this vital resource growing. With your help, we can expand access to nutritious food and ensure every student has the opportunity to learn, thrive, and belong.
Amazon Wishlist
Giving Garden Gift Fund
Employee Payroll Deduction
Employees can set up auto donation deductions that come directly from their paycheck. This can be set up through My UW Giving.
- Log-in using your UW NetID
- Click Add Payroll Pledge button
- Select the Fund and Amount to be deducted.
ABOUT THE GARDEN
Our mission is to engage students with their food system and fight hunger through sustainable urban agriculture in Downtown Tacoma.
Meet our Team
Clare Tupper // Giving Garden Coordinator
Clare Tupper has been a professional staff for the Giving Garden since 2022 but has worked at the garden since 2019, starting as a Student Assistant! Clare earned both her bachelor's in environmental Sustainability and a Masters in Community Planning from UWT, Go DAWGS! Being able to work in a space that provides access to greenspace while supporting food security and fostering community engagement is a dream come true for Clare. She has seen the garden grow over the years and can’t wait to share and grow this program with more students to come.
Fun fact about me: Clare has never lost a staring contest. Come test it out at our volunteer hours!
Aayush Modi // Giving Garden Student Assistant
Hello! My name is Aayush, and I am an international student pursuing my Master’s in Computer Science here at UWT! I joined the Giving Garden as a Student Assistant this spring because it is the perfect place to unplug from my laptop, enjoy the fresh air, and help our campus community grow. When I’m not deep into my coursework, I enjoy cooking and experimenting with new vegetarian recipes.
Fun fact about me: I have a very strict personal rule against ever eating or cooking with mushrooms! I’d love to meet you, so come say hi during our volunteer hours!
Michael Dorner // Giving Garden Student Assistant
Hello! My name is Michael and I’m a 4th year environmental science major. I started working in the garden in March but I’ve been gardening for a handful of years now, I find the process very fulfilling and nothing's better than the taste of fresh produce. I’m super passionate about building resilient connected communities in Tacoma so working in the garden has been an amazing opportunity for me to give back doing something I love. I’m also helping develop the micro-forest on campus and love to talk plants anytime.
Fun fact about me: My least favorite food is chocolate!
Keep Learning about the Giving Garden
Established in 2009, the Giving Garden has served the Tacoma community by growing fresh produce for food banks and connecting volunteers to their food system.
In December 2008, the Environmental Science and Studies program at UW Tacoma applied for a mini-grant through the Green Partnership Fund (administered by Pierce Conservation District) to establish an Institute for Service to the Community and Environment. The grant was awarded, and professor Jim Gawel worked with students to build the Giving Garden as an urban garden at the University of Washington Tacoma. The garden was established on a lot adjacent to the Whitney Parking Lot (1751 Fawcett Ave Tacoma, WA 98402) with a modest four raised garden beds. When the University Y (a student center built in partnership with UW Tacoma and the YMCA) was built in 2014, the Giving Garden was provided with a new home located on the corner of Fawcett and 21st where it operates today.
In 2013, Dr. Christine Stevens, a faculty member at the University of Washington Tacoma, conducted a study on food insecurity. Dr. Stevens’ study showed that one-third of students on UW Tacoma’s campus experience some level of food insecurity, meaning they have limited to no means of obtaining healthy food options. This research led to the creation of The Pantry in 2016, an on-campus food bank that provides free food and hygiene items to students. The Giving Garden has partnered with the Pantry since then to help provide students with fresh produce.
In 2015 to 2016 the SHED (Sustainable Hub for Education and Demonstration) was constructed at the Giving Garden’s new location. The SHED project, from start to finish, is an exemplary example of the Giving Garden’s ability to foster our community’s vision for hands on education and community collaboration. The structure was the combined vision of Alecia Lawless (Kuhl), former Giving Garden Student Coordinator, and students involved in CIVITAS, UWT’s Urban Studies Student Organization - including Dan Smith, who was also a Sustainable Building Science instructor for Clover Park Technical College.
Alecia and fellow CIVITAS members saw an opportunity to collaborate with Dan’s students who supported the design and construction of the structure with almost 800 volunteer hours. Also integral to the success of this University-community partnership was the help of Jonah Jensen of BLRB Architects, Joy Beckerman of Hemp Ace International, Thomas Duke - the UW Tacoma Annual Giving Officer, and countless other local businesses, community members, etc. The combined community efforts resulted in over $50,000 raised, composed of in-kind and cash donations, bringing the SHED from vision to reality.
Efforts from students and community members past and present have continued to build in the spirit of the SHED - contributing to the success of the Giving Garden. Rooted in University-community partnership and collaboration, hands on education, and sustainable building and agriculture, the vision of the SHED incorporated a hempcrete (concrete made with the hemp fibers) wall and a living roof installed by a group of UWT volunteers on the 2017 Day of Caring hosted by the Center for Service and Leadership (now Husky Volunteers). The living roof has since been replaced for the installation of the campus's first solar power system. You can learn more about the SHED project in several of the links below.
In 2020-2024 the Giving Garden has continued to grow and create a sense of permanence with the addition of several infrastructure projects including: the addition of raised garden beds, taking our numbers to over 50 beds, a greenhouse, parameter fencing, a solar system to power the SHED, and an automated irrigation system. In 2024 alone, the garden donated over 450 lbs. of produce to the Pantry and other local food banks.
One of the most beautiful things about the Giving Garden is its capacity to grow. We have a rich history of passionate individuals believing that this space could be more, and we will continue that legacy as we build better infrastructure, host more events and activities, and engage more meaningfully with our campus and community.
* Last updated in 2025
Student Projects and Research (2024-2026)
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arrow_drop_down_circle TME 499 (directed research).
Research project to fix solar system and determine best method to power greenhouse.
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arrow_drop_down_circle TCE307 Construction Engineering
Hands on learning project in collaboration with local Zeolite Company and Construction company.
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arrow_drop_down_circle Mechanical Engineering Capstone
This Mechanical Engineering capstone team fully analyzed our solar system limits and built essential quick-reference guides! This crucial load analysis gives next year's team the exact blueprint needed to upgrade our solar capacity and start optimizing the greenhouse
