Rutgers Gardens is a 180-acre botanic garden, consisting of designed gardens, farms, plant collections, natural habitats, and a farmers market. As part of Rutgers University, the Gardens provides experiential and service learning opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. It serves as a living laboratory for faculty and staff to better serve plant science research, landscape architecture, and the nursery and public horticulture industry.

Dr. Lauren Errickson serves as the Director of Rutgers Gardens and Campus Stewardship within the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences at Rutgers University. In this role, she aims to improve human health and well-being through increased access to nutritious food and green space while stewarding the plant collections, display gardens, and natural areas of Rutgers Gardens.  Dr. Errickson’s research and programming efforts have focused on urban food access, community health initiatives, and sustainable agriculture and food systems, as well as on ecology and horticulture.  

She joins Dr. Roizen today to talk all about the health benefits of gardening, growing your own food and relaxing outdoors.