City Slicker Farms

WE REINFORCE SELF-SUSTAINING ACCESS TO FOOD AND BUILD COMMUNITY THROUGH URBAN FARMING, EDUCATION, AND RECREATION.

USING A MODEL WE HAVE DEVELOPED AND HONED OVER THE LAST DECADE, CITY SLICKER FARMS PARTNERS WITH INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND ORGANIZATIONS SERVING LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS TO BUILD NEW GARDENS AND DELIVER MENTORSHIP, HEATH EDUCATION, AND INCREASE FRESH FOOD ACCESS AS PART OF OUR "BACKYARD GARDEN" PROGRAM. PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE A FULLY STOCKED GARDEN AT NO COST TO THEM, COMPLETE WITH RAISED BED PLANTER BOXES, SEEDLINGS RAISED IN THE CITY SLICKER FARMS GREENHOUSE, SOIL AND COMPOST. GARDENERS THEN PARTNER WITH AN EXPERIENCED STAFF OR VOLUNTEER MENTOR WHO OFFERS SUPPORT, EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM AND/OR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TAILORED FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL AND SITE, AS WELL AS GARDENING SUPPLIES AND SEEDLINGS FOR TWO YEARS. FOR MANY OF OUR INSTITUTIONAL AND COMMUNITY GROUP PARTNERS, WE ALSO PROVIDE GARDEN-BASED CURRICULUM TO ENGAGE THEIR CLIENTS IN LESSONS ON ECOLOGY AND NUTRITION. THE GARDEN PROGRAM BENEFITS OUR COMMUNITY IN MANY WAYS. FOR YOUNG CHILDREN, EXPOSURE TO SCHOOL GARDENS AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS IMPROVES SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, FOSTERS COLLABORATIVE SKILLS, ALLEVIATES STRESS, AND IMPROVES DIETARY CHOICES. FOR ADULTS AND SENIOR CITIZENS, GARDENS PROVIDE AFFORDABLE FRESH PRODUCE, OPPORTUNITIES FOR RECREATION AND EXERCISE, AND FOR SOME, THE ABILITY TO CARRY OUT A LIFELONG HOBBY THAT PROMOTES WELLBEING. FOR ALL OF OUR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS, WE HAVE FOUND THAT INCREASING THE AVAILABILITY OF FRESH PRODUCE THROUGH GARDENING, AND PAIRING IT WITH NUTRITION CLASSES FOCUSED ON PREPARING HEALTHY MEALS, CREATES POSITIVE HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. EVERY YEAR PARTICIPANTS REPORT SAVING MONEY ON GROCERY BILLS, EATING A MORE NUTRITIOUS DIET, AND STRENGTHENING THEIR COMMUNITY BY SHARING THEIR BOUNTY WITH NEIGHBORS.

THE WEST OAKLAND FARM PARK IS 1.4 ACRE WORKING URBAN FARM, EDUCATIONAL SPACE, AND OUTDOOR RECREATION SITE LOCATED AT 2847 PERALTA ST. IN OAKLAND, CA. IT WAS CREATED AND CONCEIVED BY AND FOR THE 3,000 COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS, AND INTENDED TO BE A FOCAL POINT OF COMMUNITY PRIDE AND ACTIVITY FOR RESIDENTS OF WEST OAKLAND. IT IS A SAFE SPACE FOR RECREATION AND CONNECTS NEIGHBORS OVER THE GROWING, PREPARING AND SHARING OF FOOD; PROMOTES ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION, SERVES AS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW WE CAN RECLAIM THE ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY OF THE LAND; AND EXPAND ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOODS FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES IN OAKLAND. THE FARM PARK IS ALSO WHERE WE LEAD COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS AND SKILL SHARES AS WELL AS HOST OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, LEADERS AND TEACHERS TO SHARE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SUSTAINABLE FARMING TECHNIQUES AND CULINARY SKILLS. WE HONOR AND CELEBRATE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY AND THIS PROGRAM REFLECTS THE DIVERSITY TRADITIONS AND ABILITIES.

CITY SLICKER FARMS IS PART OF THE TOWN FRIDGE COLLECTIVE, A NETWORK OF REFRIGERATORS ACROSS OAKLAND THAT PROVIDE FREE FOOD TO ANYONE WHO NEEDS IT. AT THE WEST OAKLAND FARM PARK WE GROW THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF FOOD EACH YEAR THAT WE DISTRIBUTE THROUGH THE REFRIGERATOR ON THE PERIMETER OF OUR PROPERTY. OUR "FARM TO FRIDGE" PROGRAM INCREASES HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS TO THE COMMUNITY AND SUPPORTS MUTUAL AID NETWORKS BY ALSO PROVIDING PANTRY SPACE FOR NON-PERISHABLE FOODS AND SUPPLIES. FIRST PRIORITY GOES TO UNHOUSED, LOW- AND FIXED-INCOME AND BIPOC COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF OUR GARDEN PROGRAM. HOWEVER, ANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS MAY DROP OFF FOOD AND ANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS MAY PICK UP FOOD.