Veggielution Urban Farming Project Annual Report 2008

hile Santa Clara Valley trans- formed itself into a bustling Project Development Team urban center, a twelve-acre W Amie Frisch piece of farmland has sat quietly below Co-Founder San Jose’s central freeway interchange at Mark Anthony Medeiros Emma Prusch Farm Park. Co-Founder Sandhya Dittakavi In April 2008, the Prusch Farm Park Foundation- Resource Development Intern a nonprofit that guides decisions at Emma Prusch, Annie Chang Resource Development adopted the Veggielution Urban Farming Project. As Veggielution builds a more formal structure, Ryan Smith That month we were given permission to break Resource Development ground on a quarter-acre pilot plot looking out over we will be better able to collaborate with other or- ganizations and maximize resources. As we expand, Sean P. Jones the “Back Twelve.” Farming Intern we will form our own 501(c)3 nonprofit. What started in January 2007 as a grassroots ef- Chris Prudhomme fort to organize organic vegetable production in the In the coming months, we will create a proposal Farming Intern explaining our idea for a large scale, educational backyards of downtown homes has evolved into a Elizabeth Sarimiento community effort to secure land for a large-scale, community farm at Prusch Farm Park. Though Farming / Community Outreach educational farm. there has been no formal request for proposals by Dennis Lozano The first few months at Emma Prusch were hard, park management, it is our goal to be a part of the Business Development but a community formed around Veggielution’s conversation over the “Back Twelve.” Marcus Elliot-Kilgore new land. Private companies and local foundations Our current and future successes are tied to our Administrative Intern provided supplies and money. Elder gardeners pro- broad vision and goals: to empower youth, embrace Tom Bowmer vided plants and guidance. Youth from surrounding diversity, build community, and create a more sus- Organization development schools and community volunteers worked to pre- tainable food system in San Jose. Monica Lisa Benavides Education / Community Outreach pare the soil by hand, and then planted it with corn, We are a city of long time natives and recent im- migrants. We see great strength in the diversity of beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, peppers, wa- Advisory Board termelons, and sunflowers. San Jose, and we see the farm as a way to find com- mon ground. We understand that the energy to make Michael Fallon By May, an organic, bio-intensive garden had Center for service learning, SJSU this happen will come from our youth, taken root in a previously vacant field. Rachel O’Malley The harvest surprised us all. Each week and the knowledge will come from our Environmental Studies DEPT., SJSU produce went to a local soup kitchen, 1,705 elders who know what it is work the Sharon McCray while volunteers enjoyed their fill. For Pounds of food land, or how to build a successful orga- President, Prusch Foundation many who participated, it was the first produced nization. Sarah Gallardo time that they had tasted food grown by As San Jose envisions how to become a Educator, Full Circle Farm their own hands. sustainable city, we must recognize urban Liz Snyder It is now February 2009, and while we 400+ agriculture is part of the solution to cli- Director, Full Circle Farm nurture the soil for future years of pro- Participants mate change, environmental destruction, Christopher Lepe ductivity, we are laying the groundwork food insecurity, and growing poverty. Environmental science, De Anza for a community organization that has Every Sunday we eat and work to- Jim Petkiewicz 4,360+ Community Links International the capacity to have a greater impact. Volunteer Hours gether on our farm and rethink what it We have obtained fiscal sponsorship Dennis Bolger means to be from The Silicon Valley.We Naturalist, Prusch Farm Park through the William James Association, are imagining the future and remember- Paul Mcnamara which relieves the Emma Prusch Foundation of ing that this place used to be called The Valley of SJSU Division of advancement some responsibility for our project while still allow- Heart’s Delight. Our future community farm will Adriana Garcia-Cabrera ing for a close collaboration. We have also created a not only be a source of fresh, local food. We hope Director, M.A.I.Z. Project Development Team and an Advisory Board, to create a monument to our collective histories and Mario de leon composed of local community leaders, SJSU fac- cultures, a place where people reconnect with each MACSA, YMCA ulty, and students. other and the land that sustains them. Farm Operations ESTIMATED YIELD Every Sunday an average of 20 volunteers work on a vari- Crop Yields (Lbs) . ety of tasks which include: starting seeds, planting, weed- Corn ...... 60 Zucchinni ...... 250 ing, building and turning compost piles, and harvesting. Pole Beans ...... 25 Cucumbers...... 250 Work is managed by volunteer workday leaders. After 2-3 Tomatoes...... 950 Watermelon...... 60 hours of work, participants share in a potluck lunch, and Jalapeno Peppers. . . . 80 Sunflower Seeds. . . . . 5 are encouraged to take home produce. During the summer Bell Peppers...... 25 Total...... 1705 lbs months last year, we harvested produce twice a week, and also made a weekly delivery to Martha’s Kitchen. Current- ly, we are developing a work schedule for 2009 that will Distribution improve on last year’s yield, increase the diversity of crops Martha’s Kitchen...... 700 lbs grown, and ensure a more continuous harvest. San Jose state Campus orgs...... 160 Lbs Cham...... 20. Lbs Installed 4ft wire fence around pilot plot Veggielution volunteers...... 825. LBS Installed automatic drip irrigation system Double dug 1,950 sq ft of garden beds with people power, mattocks, shovels, and hoes Built an 8’x4’ in ground worm bin Financial Summary 2008 Held 32 Sunday workdays attended Income by an average of 20 people Donations from Organizations $10,250 Held 16 weekday morning workdays GCRCd $7,500 attended by an average of 5 people Silicon Valley Land Conservancy $500 Planted 2,350 sq ft of vegetables and flowers Kiwanis Club of San Jose $250 Emma Prusch Foundation $2,000 Harvested 1,705 lbs of produce Individual Donors $410 Volunteers put in a total of 4,360 hours In Kind Donations $1,600 Hosted San Jose Conservation Corps (8 visits) Cash Income $10,660 Hosted Children’s Discovery Museum Total Income $12,260 Summer of Service Green Team (4 visits) Expenditures Hosted one Hands On Bay Area work event Supplies $3,155.90 Hosted many other field trips and group visits Staff $5,800.00 Participated in the Americorps Bridging Borders tOTAL Expenditures $8,955.90 Program Balance $1,704.10

Creating the East Side Community Farm Vision and Strategy

We will establish a large-scale Educational Program Our first goal is to Prusch Farm Park’s create a high school youth program which draws “Back Twelve” is our community farm that will from area schools. Participants will learn diverse preferred location, empower youth, build com- skills as they help to operate the farm. They will however we are pre- munity, and help create a also receive training in leadership, communica- pared to consider tion, cultural empowerment, environmental and other sites. This land sustainable food system social issues. Internship opportunities will be is already slated for in San Jose, California available to university students to help run vari- agricultural use. ous aspects of the organization, while workshops will be developed for adult participants. Train- AdDressing community needs The ings can be developed to give teachers and other farmstand, and sales of produce to local restau- farm will address issues of food access, com- community leaders the skills they need to start rants. Eventually, value-added products such munity space, youth development, and environ- new projects. All the programming will encour- as tomato sauce can be produced and marketed mental and nutrition education. It will directly age intergenerational learning. locally. However, grantwriting and fundraising serve those on the community garden waiting will continue to play an important role. list, immigrants who feel disconnected from community involvement Community their agricultural heritage, and first-time gar- work days will be structured to involve a di- Sustainable agricutlure The farm deners who want to connect with the land. We verse community of all age groups. Participants will be managed using best practice organic will provide an opportunity for physical activ- will receive fresh produce and develop relation- farming methods. Soil fertility will be main- ity, social interaction, and education. It will be ships with others in the community. Staff will tained through crop rotations, cover cropping, composting, and vermiculture. A hedgerow of San Jose’s first community farm demonstrating facilitate group decision-making with volun- natives, fruit trees, herbs and other beneficial sustainable agriculture and a place for the com- teers, including experienced elder gardeners, plants will be established around the perimeter munity to congregate and celebrate our rich cul- to ensure that the farm produces culturally rel- to create a habitat for beneficial wildlife. Inter- tural heritage. evant foods and develops programs with broad cropping, drip irrigation, and integrated pest public interest. A community space will be in- management will be used. We recognize the Creating a Structure We see the farm corporated into the farm for seasonal and cul- value of the agricultural heritage of San Jose’s as a potential collaboration between the City of tural celebrations, performances, workshops, diverse community. A farm manager will be San Jose, the Prusch Farm Park Foundation, San and special events. Jose State, area elementary and high schools, responsible for integrating the cultural knowl- and a variety of community partners. Veggielu- edge of experienced gardeners with a sustain- Financial Sustainability The farm will tion will create a 501(c)3 nonprofit and hire staff able farm management plan. use college-age interns, a high school youth to manage farming, an educational program, and program, and community involvement to meet Multiple sites We hope to expand into community involvement. However, we hope to its labor needs. Produce will be distributed as multiple sites depending on the amount of land empower the San Jose community to take own- progressively as possible while selling a por- we obtain, and facilitate the creation of similar ership. Many leadership positions will be created tion to hire staff and buy supplies. Distribution projects to be run by other organizations. for volunteers, and a community input process strategies will include donations, the sale of will evolve. Our Advisory Board will continue CSA shares on a sliding pay scale, an onsite to grow to include youth, faculty, and represen- tatives of community organizations.

Veggielution empowers youth and adults from diverse backgrounds to create a sustainable food system in San Jose. Our urban farm engages the community by providing access to healthy and local food, creating youth leadership opportunities, and developing creative solutions to social and environmental justice issues. , “Knowledge about how to produce healthy food is something that every- The Veggielution one deserves access to. I think that Veggielution is helping to reclaim some of that power and put it back where it should be-- in our own hands. A seed will grow for anyone. It isn’t Community concerned about your race, how much education you have, or how much Our new Fiscal Sponsor: money is in your wallet.“ - Roxie Rice, 22

William James Association “It’s awesome and a lot of fun. I had Based in Santa Cruz, The William James Association promotes a great time. It was a good learning experience and it’s something that I work in the arts, environment, education, and community think is going to be good for San Jose. development. It is a non-profit community service corporation I hope it gets bigger.” operating under Section 501(c)3 of the IRS tax code. Through its - Travis Abate, 14 Fiscal Sponsorship Program, the Association assists individuals and community organizations consistent with its service mission “Veggielution helps members of our by providing administrative support, tax-exempt status, and fis- community work together towards a common goal. In a society largely cal sponsorship. The purpose of the William James Association based on instant gratification, Sponsorship Program is twofold: gardening teaches us the value of car- ing and waiting for something 1) Provide managerial support and guidance to individuals and that keep us, our families and com- organizations so that they may produce temporary projects or munities healthy.” begin to develop as ongoing organizations. - Monica Lisa-Benavides, 26 2) Ensure funding agencies and contributors that funds are well- managed, spent according to their guidelines, and that proposed “For all these volunteers, it’s not only services are delivered. about the quantity of food, but how we can learn from this hands on experi- ence. Maybe some people will take this to a larger level, planting in their own How you can get involved homes or educating others.” Participate in our weekly workdays Our weekly Sunday - Elizabeth Sarimiento, 40 workdays will continue throughout the year. See our website for directions and times. This is the best opportunity to experience Veggielution. Bring your family and your friends to participate in Thank you to all vironmental Studies, Sociology, and Nutrition. farm work and share in a communal potluck lunch. of our supporters and partners Participating students Join our advisory board We are currently looking for experi- from these schools McKinley Elementary; Overfelt enced community leaders to join our Advisory Board. The Board Individual Donors: Jessica High School; Independence High Elliot, Michael Fallon, Maureen will help guide the direction of our project and develop our com- School; Bellarmine College Prepa- Frisch, Susan and John Owicki, ratory; San Jose High Academy; munity farm proposal. If you are affiliated with a local organization, Kristina Vicijan, Milovan Milutin, De Anza Community College; have experience in community development, public health, sustain- Filipe Medeiros, Gina Serpa Evergreen Community College; able agriculture or similar areas, we would love to meet you. Supportive / affiliated San Jose State University; community groups Santa Clara University Emma Prusch Farm Park, Prusch All our dedicated volunteers, DonatE Money and Supplies Are you part of a local funding Farm Park Foundation, Guadalupe- who are too many to name organization? Can your business provide in-kind donations of ser- Coyote Resource Conservation Dis- vices and supplies? Are you an individual interested in giving a trict, Children’s Discovery Museum The many organizations that Youth Programs, Silicon Valley Land we hope to work with in the one time donation? If so, please contact us. Conservancy, The Health Trust future and are currently de- San Jose State University: Center veloping relationships with Become a partner organization We seek to work with exist- for Community Learning and Lead- ing community organizations and youth programs in developing ership; Cesar Chavez Community Our friends at other Bay Area Action Center; Departments of En- our vision. Let’s schedule a meeting and talk about collaboration. non-profit farms Visit our website: www.veggielution.org E-mail us at: [email protected]