Students tour the Urban Farm on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, on the campus of Cal State Dominguez Hills in Carson. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Senior Xochitl Benitez holds a chicken during an Urban Farm open house on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, on the campus of Cal State Dominguez Hills in Carson. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Cal State Dominguez Hills in Carson holds an open house for its urban farm on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Students attend an open house on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, at the Urban Farm on the campus of Cal State Dominguez Hills in Carson. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Students hold chickens during an Urban Farm open house on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, on the campus of Cal State Dominguez Hills in Carson. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Students attend an open house on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, at the Urban Farm on the campus of Cal State Dominguez Hills in Carson. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Students tour the Urban Farm on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, on the campus of Cal State Dominguez Hills in Carson. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
A student cooks sweet potatoes using a solar oven at the Urban Farm on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, on the campus of Cal State Dominguez Hills in Carson. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Students plant pine trees as part of sustainability efforts on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, on the campus of Cal State Dominguez Hills in Carson. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Students plant pine trees as part of sustainability efforts on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, on the campus of Cal State Dominguez Hills in Carson. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Varieties of kale grow at the Urban Farm, seen here on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, on the campus of Cal State Dominguez Hills in Carson. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Sophomore Soren Ponce, right, and freshman Sarah Morris make paper using recycled materials at the Urban Farm on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, on the campus of Cal State Dominguez Hills in Carson. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Cal State Dominguez Hills in Carson holds an open house for its urban farm on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Students tour the Urban Farm on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, on the campus of Cal State Dominguez Hills in Carson. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Students plant pine trees as part of sustainability efforts on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, on the campus of Cal State Dominguez Hills in Carson. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
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Students tour the Urban Farm on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, on the campus of Cal State Dominguez Hills in Carson. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Cal State Dominguez Hills held an open house on Thursday, Oct. 8, for its urban farm, welcoming the local community to see how sustainable farming can take place in an urban environment.
The CSUDH urban farm was created in 2018, two years after the university launched its environmental studies program.
“It (the urban farm) was launched to tackle food insecurity because where Cal State Dominguez Hills is located is a food desert,” said CSUDH sustainability coordinator Aemelia Hellgren. “So it was created as an educational demonstration to showcase what a sustainable food system can look like for a local community.”
While other California State University campuses have implemented urban farms, Hellgren said, CSUDH is unique for how it has thrived despite Carson’s contaminated soil and dry ground. To do this, she said, the farm utilizes vertical farming.
The farm only spans 0.11 acres, but produces an array of food, including squash, corn, kale and other leafy greens, peppers, and cucumbers, among others. There is also an herb garden and a fruit tree orchard. Another method used in the farm is hydroponic towers. These are tall towers, with little pods for various plants, generating a lot of produce per square foot in small places. The towers periodically pump water up the central column so it can trickle down.
During the open house, CSUDH also unveiled a new chicken coop that hosts 12 chickens of mixed breeds.
“So many transformational things have happened here,” interdisciplinary studies assistant professor Jenney Hall said before cutting a ribbon and welcoming the community to come meet the new chickens. “All of this stuff did not exist 10 years ago. We have made some really amazing strides. And of course, all of this would not be possible without our amazing students. And I’m just really excited about what the next 10 years will bring.”
The CSUDH urban farm is used in environmental studies and interdisciplinary studies classes, as well as internships.
All of the food grown and eggs produced are donated to the on-campus food pantry, where students can pick up food for free.
“It’s crucial for your health and well-being what you put into your body,” Hellgren said. “It’s important to have a diverse, healthy diet. There is a Sprouts that opened within walking distance from campus, which is great, but it’s also an affordability question to access this type of fresh produce. So it’s crucial to have access to that, especially as a student when you need to focus on studies. You need to be able to eat healthy. So it’s for health and affordability, and also accessibility.”
CSUDH has plans to expand its urban farm. If they are able to receive funding, a phase two will be implemented at another location that would include a cornfield, outdoor kitchen for cooking demonstrations, and an outdoor amphitheater for outdoor classes. The projected cost for the expansion is $5 million.
In her CSUDH biography, Hall says she started the urban farm to not only teach students about urban farming, but also provide an example of how to sustainably farm in a difficult environment.
“Our students are disproportionately affected by air pollution, water pollution and lead pollution,” Hall said. “We must build programs that encourage students to take action both on campus, and in their communities.”