Food Justice Leaders and Summer Interns: July 2009 Update

Food Justice Leaders

The Food Justice Leaders have had many interesting opportunities since June to learn about food, food access, health and gardening.  The Leaders participated in a team-building day at Fort Miley’s Ropes Course in San Francisco.  They also met with Margaret Allen from the Ravenswood Health Clinic, and learned about her work with the homeless.  They went with Karen Hurst from Village Harvest to harvest fruit to donate to various shelters, and also took a field trip to San Francisco to learn about the Bayview Hunters Point Farmers’ Market, Quesada Neighborhood Gardens Initiative, and Alemany Farm.  Lastly, they took a field trip to Pie Ranch in Pescadero, on the San Mateo coast.

In addition to these exciting trips, the Leaders have been working at the East Palo Alto Community Farmers Market and in the Collective Roots Garden, Each Thursday they also prepare a community meal with fresh produce from the garden and EPA Farmers Market.  Click here to see the recipe for their top-rated and refreshing drink:  Minty Lemonade!

Summer Interns

Allison Riemer
Recently I have been planning demonstrations for the East Palo Alto Community Farmers Market and the Palo Alto Farm Shop.  We will be using the bicycle blender to make smoothies on site at the EPA Market on Saturdays, and at the Palo Alto market each Wednesday.

At the EPA Market I also help count market visitors and hand out Fresh Checks to customers using EBT (food stamps), WIC, and Senior Center checks.  At the Palo Alto Farm Shop I help sell produce and other goods.  Both markets allow me to interact with and get to know the Food Justice Leaders.

I thoroughly enjoyed the recent field trip to San Francisco where we visited Bayview Hunters Point, and learned about the farmers market, the Quesada Garden Initiative, and Alemany Farm.

I have also helped plant beans, collards, beets, and other crops in the garden at EPACS.

Jade Wang
In the past few weeks, I've been focusing primarily on writing new curricula based on fruit trees about science, nutrition, ecology, and economics to compliment Collective Roots' fruit orchard.   I've also been helping with some renovations of the garden signs and getting to know our Food Justice Leaders through community lunch preparations.

Emily Viggiano
During my first month here, I have delved into all sorts of projects, from helping move into Collective Roots' new office on Woodland Avenue to planting a garden at Clifford Elementary School in Redwood City, where Collective Roots' will be running a garden program this fall.  I have loved working with Eron, Katie, and community volunteers on weeding, planting, and painting projects out in the EPACS garden. I have really also enjoyed working with the Food Justice Leaders; we've made pizza for community lunch, planted beans and carrots in the garden, harvested plums and oranges with Village Harvest, and visited Pie Ranch, Alemany Farms, and the Bayview/Hunter's Point Farmers' Market.