I am a third-year sociology and education student at UCR. I have been working closely with the R’Garden as president of the Gardening Club and as the point of contact for the R’Garden Referendum submission this year. Reach out to me if you have any questions at ahtet001@ucr.edu.
If the R’Garden Referendum does not pass, it will close.
Currently, the R’Garden is running on temporary funding from the Provost and CNAS at about 75% capacity. But next year, this funding will not continue. That means losing one of the few campus resources that directly help with student food insecurity and provides a space for agricultural learning outside the classroom and paid student jobs. It would also mean no more free campus-grown produce, no more internships and no more space where students can connect around food, sustainability and community.
The loss of these resources will have a significant impact because the need for something like the R’Garden is big. At the University of California, Riverside (UCR), food insecurity is a serious issue. Previous data show that 62.5% of students experienced food insecurity, and more recent reporting still shows that over half of undergraduate students continue to face food insecurity.
The R’Garden directly responds to that need by providing fresh, accessible produce while also educating students about food systems and sustainability. In 2023 alone, the R’Garden was able to distribute 36,756 pounds of free produce, serving 7,350 student visits while running on temporary donations and grants. With stable funding, the R’Garden will be able to accomplish so much more.
From April 27 to May 1, 2026, students will vote on whether the R’Garden should receive permanent funding starting fall 2026. The funding would come from a $10 quarterly fee. Last year, most students who voted supported the R’Garden. However, it did not pass because turnout did not reach the 20% requirement, falling just 3% below the threshold.
That same rule applies this year and is why UCR students need to vote. If it does pass, the $10 per quarter would allow the R’Garden to expand and better serve students. It would help increase production by fully using all eight acres of land and make more fresh produce available. It would also support more workshops and programs about sustainability, food systems and environmental health.
On top of that, the funding would help hire more staff and expand student internship opportunities. These internships give students real hands-on experience in sustainable agriculture and food systems and they are also paid positions, which helps students financially. The R’Garden also plans to expand educational workshops and opportunities for students with a new position, Faculty Director, who will be in charge of education at the R’Garden, which is funded by CNAS and will be funded by CNAS in the future if the referendum passes.
With this new addition, the R’Garden will be able to expand educational efforts through student-led and faculty supported workshops and classes. The long term goal is to be able to host courses on-site. Currently, we have a class being facilitated by student Nina Haywood, which serves as a foundation for this model.
Moving forward, the aim is to continue and grow this approach by having R’Garden student interns lead and support similar educational experiences. If the referendum passes, we will be able to expand these efforts by offering more workshops, supporting student educators and programming more.
Most importantly, in accordance with campus policy, 25% of the $10 quarterly fee, which totals $2.50, will be returned directly to students in the form of financial aid, helping offset the cost for those who need it most. The remaining funds are reinvested into operations, staffing and programming that directly benefit students.
If the referendum does not pass, the R’Garden will lose funding and likely close. That would mean losing a space that has been part of the campus for over a decade and exists because students fought to create it. Last year, students showed strong support. But support alone is not enough if people do not actually vote.
Ultimately, every vote matters. If you care about the R’Garden, vote when the ballot comes out. Tell friends, group chats and classmates to vote as well. Share @rfarmersatucr posts to spread awareness about the referendum. Visit the garden, get involved and see what the R’Garden does for students. At the end of the day, this referendum is not just about keeping a garden open. It is about keeping a space that feeds, employs, teaches and builds community among students.
Last year, students showed their support for the R’Garden. This year, we just need enough students to show up. Read the full referendum here.
Ballots will be sent to UCR emails during election week (April 27 – May 1) and at least 20% of the student body must vote for it to pass. Student support is essential to the success of the referendum, and we welcome anyone who is interested in supporting outreach and marketing. Please reach out to ahtet001@ucr.edu if you have any questions or would like to get involved.
