Critical Reflections on Experiential Learning for Food Justice

This essay will reflect on Santa Clara University’s (SCU) forays into experiential learning around food justice through the Bronco Urban Gardens (BUG) program. BUG works with urban schools and a community center in San José, California, using a garden-based education approach. This program emerged out of our student garden, The Forge. University student farms and gardens provide opportunities for students to learn how to grow, manage, and market food. At Santa Clara University, our half-acre (0.2 hectare) garden plays that role. However, because of our institution’s commitment to social justice and a strong network of community partners, our campus garden has blossomed into a larger food justice outreach program. We will first discuss the motivation behind experiential learning for social justice and reflect on its connection to food justice. We then focus on several observations, challenges, and questions that have emerged out of our BUG experiences. Some of those observations involve the challenge of working with students and community partners where the interests of both groups must be served. We also explore what food justice means in this a, * Corresponding author: Leslie Gray, Executive Director, Environmental Studies Institute, Santa Clara University; 874 Lafayette Street; Santa Clara, California 95053 USA; +1-408551-7054; lcgray@scu.edu b Joanna Johnson, Director, Bronco Urban Gardens Program, Environmental Studies Institute; Santa Clara University; Santa Clara, California USA; +1-408-551-3000 x6453;