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Welcome to the newest issue of The Root of the Matter. Through our monthly electronic communication, Collective Roots will keep you informed about recent successes, new initiatives, upcoming events, and ways you can get involved with our work for food system change in East Palo Alto.
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| FARMERS' MARKET |
Celebrating the Successes of the Second Market Season
This past season, more than 6,000 visits were made to the East Palo Alto Community Farmer's Market over 28 consecutive market days. Average attendance increased over the first season, due at least in part to a new location (2415 University Avenue) and the EPA Fresh Checks program, which distributed over $21,000 in farm-fresh fruits and vegetables to needy local families. We added new growers, new vendors and prepared food. And through the Backyard Gardener Network, produce grown locally in East Palo Alto was sold for the first time.
We also launched our new website and a Twitter feed, which have greatly increased our ability to get the word out about the dynamic market schedule. EBT/food stamp capabilities were added, and more than $1,800 in food stamps was spent on market produce over the course of the season. Last summer, we were able to hire three local high school students through our Food Justice Leaders summer employment program. The FJLs learned about agriculture, business, public health and community work. A full report on the market's second season will be posted soon to http://www.epafarmersmarket.org.
Backyard Gardener Network Update
On January 19th, local gardeners gathered to brainstorm about the future of the Backyard Gardener Network. Questions included: What resources do we need? How should we do outreach? Staff and volunteers gained valuable insight that will help us move forward with this program in a way that meets the needs of local residents, and furthers the mission to increase local food production.
Edible Garden Series
Sign-ups are starting soon for the Edible Garden Series course in collaboration with Common Ground. This exciting opportunity for low-cost gardening classes is available to residents of East Palo Alto and East Menlo Park, with scholarships available. Both new and experienced gardeners are encouraged to attend. To learn more, visit http://www.epafarmersmarket.org/ediblegarden.
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| FUNDRAISING SPOTLIGHT |
Thank You For Your Support
Thank you so much to all of our generous donors who made contributions this past year - all of us here at Collective Roots are so grateful for your support! We simply would not be here without you, and it's a true pleasure to have such an amazing group of supporters by our side. As you know, nonprofits in this economic climate are struggling, and it the generosity of individuals that is making all the difference. If you haven't yet made a donation this year, you can still donate online here: www.collectiveroots.org/donate. Whether it's $1 or $100, it's your support that keeps our programs going.
Collective Roots Now Has a Sweet Ride!
We are thrilled to announce that we now have our very own garden work truck, donated by volunteer, Bill Truran. It has a big bed to move compost, soil, mulch, etc. It also comes with a hitch, which will work great to haul the Farmer's Market trailer! Thanks so much, Bill, for your very generous donation!
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| GARDEN WORKDAYS / OTHER EVENTS |
Next Garden Workday: Saturday, January 23rd
Please join us at the EPACS garden on January 23rd, from 9AM until noon, for a morning of winter garden tasks. Help us pull out spent crops, tend winter vegetables, weed, mulch, seed, turn beds, and plant bulbs. Please dress in layers and closed-toed shoes, and apply sunscreen! Note: the workday will be cancelled in case of rain. Click here to RSVP and for directions to the garden.
Garden Volunteers
In December, we were happy to host sixth graders from the Menlo School for two mornings of service in the EPACS garden. Students came with lots of organic gardening knowledge, after learning about Harley Farms in Pescadero. The students planted fava beans and mustard as cover crops, which will help improve and sustain our soil. They also weeded the flowerbed, planted bulbs, mulched, and prepared paper seed pots for growing seedlings. Many thanks to the many hands that helped in the garden! And a big Thank you to Susan Colb for continuing to build the Menlo School/Collective Roots relationship!
In early January, a group of 9th graders from Castilleja School volunteered in the EPACS garden to enhance their week of learning about public health and the local community. Students helped plant two new citrus trees, readied the EarthBoxes for spring planting, and planted bulbs and cover crops. A big Thank you to returning teacher, Janelle Spanier for organizing the service day!
 Hip Hip Hooray for our 2009 Volunteers
Thanks to our monthly garden work days, corporate service days, and school field trips and service days, Collective Roots' volunteers worked over 65,000 hours last year! We invite you to read a list of important accomplishments they helped us achieve here. We could never have done it without you-Thank you!
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| PROGRAMS |
 Garden-Based Learning: K-5
To read updates on the new greenhouse at Clifford Elementary, Garden Club lessons about the benefits of citrus fruits, the end-of-term celebration for EPACS students, and other updates about our Garden-Based Learning Program, please click here.
Garden-Based Learning: Middle School Program
Middle school concluded their garden elective with a field trip to Hidden Villa, and new students harvested citrus fruits. To catch up on all about the activities of the middle school program, click here.
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| STAFF NEWS |
Announcing New Staff, Still Seeking 3 New Hires
We are pleased to announce our 3 new staff members, hired through the Americorps program. We welcome two new Garden Educators, Sarah Grandin and Matt Harnack, and also Liliana Chazaro, a Food System Change Agent.
If you are looking to supplement your income, and are interested in promoting our goal to bring fresh fruits, vegetables and education to residents of Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, please visit our website to find out how to apply for the remaining 3 positions. We look forward to your application!
 Special thanks to Bay Area child & family photographer Lilia Schwartz for her wonderful portraits of our Garden Club in action. Lilia's portraits are amazing - they capture the true spirit of Collective Roots' work and the beauty of the seed-to-table experience. For more on Lilia's photography, you can visit her website: www.babymoonphotography.com.
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| FEATURED PARTNER |
We have been engaged in exciting talks lately with the US Fish and Wildlife Service about formally extending the environmental laboratory of the EPACS garden into the East Palo Alto Baylands. CR staffer Eron Sandler recently took several classes to visit the Baylands, and had her students report on various aspects of its flora and fauna, as well as how humans impact the ecosystem.
We look forward to getting students further involved with cleanup and environmental stewardship projects along the Faber-Laumeister Trail, the historic cattle trail and mud levee that extends out into the Baylands from behind the EPACS school garden.
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| WHAT'S GROWING |
 We are so fortunate to live in an area where we are able to grow food year round. This winter our Tuscan kale is beautiful and bountiful. Kale is a leafy green vegetable that belongs to the Brassica family, a group of vegetables including cabbage, collards and Brussels sprouts. The leaves of the kale plant provide an earthy flavor and more nutritional value for fewer calories than almost any other food around. It is easy to grow and can grow in colder temperatures. In fact, a light frost will produce especially sweet kale leaves! Click here for a delicious winter soup recipe featuring kale (Spicy Potato & Kale Soup from Eating Well Magazine.)
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NOTE: This newsletter employs hyperlinks that act as shortcuts to related documents or web pages. Click on the green underlined words in the articles above to find out more information.
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To read past newsletters, go to http://collectiveroots.org/news/newsletters.
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