Veggielution

TO CONNECT PEOPLE FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS THROUGH FOOD AND FARMING.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: FIRST SATURDAYS: FIRST SATURDAYS AT VEGGIELUTION ARE FUN AND LIVELY. IN ADDITION TO THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED YOUTH GARDEN ACTIVITIES AND FARM VOLUNTEER WORKDAYS, ON THE FIRST SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE ALSO INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN YOGA, VEGGIELUTION COCINA (SPANISH LANGUAGE COOKING CLASSES), LIVE MUSIC, AND ART ACTIVITIES. FIRST SATURDAYS ARE HELD FROM 9 A.M. - 3:30 P.M. RAIN OR SHINE

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FARM VOLUNTEERING: COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERISM IS ONE OF THE LONGEST-STANDING ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT VEGGIELUTION. OVER 2,500 VOLUNTEERS FROM THROUGHOUT SILICON VALLEY PARTICIPATE IN EVERY ASPECT OF OUR URBAN FARM OPERATION EACH YEAR, INCLUDING SEEDING,WEEDING, MULCHING, COMPOSTING, AND HARVEST. SOFA POCKET PARK DEMONSTRATION GARDEN: THE NEW SOFA POCKET PARK TRANSFORMS A PARKING LOT INTO A PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE OUTDOOR EDUCATION, RECREATION, AND COMMUNITY GATHERING SPACE IN DOWNTOWN SAN JOSS SOFA (SOUTH FIRST AREA) ARTS DISTRICT, JUST A FEW MILES FROM EMMA PRUSCH FARM PARK. VEGGIELUTIONS DEMONSTRATION GARDEN FEATURES RAISED PLANTER BEDS GROWING A VARIETY OF FOOD CROPS SUITED TO LOCAL CONDITIONS THAT RESIDENTS CAN LEARN TO GROW AT HOME, SHADE ELEMENTS AND MOVABLE FURNITURE FOR GARDEN EDUCATION PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS A FUTURE FARM STAND SELLING LOCALLY GROWN PRODUCTS. THE GOAL OF THE SOFA POCKET PARK DEMONSTRATION GARDEN IS TO CONNECT RESIDENTS, VISITORS AND FAMILIES TO FOOD GROWING AND COOKING, SUSTAINABLE GARDENING PRACTICES SUCH AS COMPOSTING AND WATER CONSERVATION, LOCAL FOOD ENTREPRENEURS & PRODUCTS, MUSEUMS AND ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, AND EACH OTHER.

FOOD SOVEREIGNTY EASTSIDE GROWN: VEGGIELUTIONS FOOD SYSTEM ADVOCACY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM PROMOTES SOCIAL CONNECTEDNESS AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO TRAINING, RESOURCES AND MENTORSHIP IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE URBAN FARM OPERATION. FROM LEARNING SUSTAINABLE FARMING PRACTICES TO LEADING COOKING CLASSES; FROM MANAGING THE FARM STAND TO RUNNING THE FOOD TRUCK, LOCAL RESIDENTS ARE INVITED TO BROADEN THEIR SKILL SETS AND PERSONAL NETWORKS, WHILE CONTRIBUTING TO THE GROWTH OF VEGGIELUTION AS AN INCLUSIVE GATHERING SPACE. EASTSIDE GROWN PARTICIPANTS ALSO RECEIVE BUSINESS SKILLS AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING THAT CAN HELP THEM LAUNCH SMALL FOOD BUSINESSES AND INCREASE THEIR ECONOMIC MOBILITY. EASTSIDE GROWN PROGRAM GRADUATES LEARN TO DELIVER NUTRITION AND FOOD PREP EDUCATION AND CULTURALLY RELEVANT COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS/CLASSES TO HELP FAMILIES MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES AND LOWER THEIR RISK OF DIET-RELATED DISEASE. THE EASTSIDE GROWN PROGRAM IS PART OF A LARGER S SE PUEDE COLLECTIVE INITIATIVE, JOBS TO GROW. EASTSIDE CONNECT: VEGGIELUTIONS FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM FIGHTS FOOD INSECURITY BY DISTRIBUTING FRESH LOCAL PRODUCE AND OTHER SUSTAINABLY PRODUCED FOODS TO EAST SAN JOSES MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS. THIS PROGRAM, DEVELOPED WITH SUPPORT FROM THE CITY OF SAN JOSS EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER COLLECTIVE IMPACT GRANT PROGRAM, HAS GREATLY EXPANDED DUE TO THE IMPACTS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, WHICH HAS INCREASED FOOD INSECURITY BY AS MUCH AS 32% IN THE AREA. FOOD INSECURITY IS MORE SEVERE FOR LATINO RESIDENTS AND 3-6% HIGHER FOR HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN. FOOD SECURITY AND ACCESS ARE LIKELY TO REMAIN CHALLENGING IN EAST SAN JOS, WHICH HAS BEEN HARD-HIT BY THE PANDEMIC IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC IMPACT AND DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGH CASE NUMBERS DUE TO THE AREAS MANY ESSENTIAL AND FRONT-LINE WORKERS, INTERGENERATIONAL HOUSEHOLDS, AND CROWDED LIVING CONDITIONS. FARM STAND: VEGGIELUTIONS RECENTLY RENOVATED FARM STAND PROVIDES FRESH, LOCALLY GROWN, AND AFFORDABLE PRODUCE AND LOCAL FOOD PRODUCTS TO THE COMMUNITY AND ACCEPTS ELECTRONIC BENEFITS TRANSFER (EBT) CARDS FOR CALFRESH. OPEN SATURDAYS 10 AM-2 PM, THE FARM STAND IS THE FIRST AND PRIMARY ACCESS POINT TO LEARNING ABOUT FARM ACCESS AND ACTIVITIES FOR MANY LOCAL RESIDENTS. VEGGIE VOUCHERS, A PARTNERSHIP WITH PEDIATRIC HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CENTER (PHLC) OF THE SANTA CLARA VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER, CAN BE CASHED AT THE FARM STAND, CREATING MORE ACCESS TO HEALTHY FRUITS AND VEGETABLES FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES.

SI SE PUEDE COLLECTIVE VEGGIELUTIONS COMMUNITY ROOTS ARE FURTHER EXPANDED BY ITS MEMBERSHIP IN THE SI SE PUEDE COLLECTIVE (SSPC), A GROUP OF FIVE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN EMBEDDED IN THE MAYFAIR NEIGHBORHOOD FOR DECADES, BUILDING TRUST AND UNDERSTANDING OF RESIDENTS DAY-TO-DAY REALITIES AND LIVED EXPERIENCE. MANY OF THE MEMBER AGENCIES ARE FOUNDED OR LED BY WOMEN OF COLOR. THE SSPC HAS BUILT ONGOING PROCESSES TO ENGAGE RESIDENTS, NOT ONLY AS RECIPIENTS OF SERVICES, BUT AS LEADERS WHO CO-CREATE, DEVELOP, AND LEAD PROGRAMS, SERVICES, ORGANIZING, AND ADVOCACY EFFORTS.