Holly Taylor, Co-Founder of Collective Roots

I sometimes joke that I accidentally started a nonprofit. When Amanda Feld, Adam Mitchell, and I started a garden-based education project in April of 2000, I don’t think any of us expected that it would be the thriving nonprofit that Collective Roots currently is. At the time, we were focused on more deeply involving students and parents in the Belle Haven School community. We felt that getting people of all ages together to grow and share food would provide some common ground for making change at the school. We made up for what we lacked in experience with an abundance of passion and energy. And, we thrived on the overwhelming excitement of the students and parents who helped us plant our first seeds and start growing roots. We learned a lot about gardening, holding community meetings, and working with school districts and city government during this early phase of Collective Roots’ history. We also started our first after school Garden Club, which has become Collective Roots’ longest running program.

In the fall of 2002, a new principal began at Belle Haven Elementary School. Unfortunately, her priorities did not include supporting Collective Roots’ growth. For personal and professional reasons Amanda and Adam were not able to spend as much time on the project as they had during the initial years at Belle Haven. It was at that point that I decided to continue working on the project at a different site and work with others to incorporate as a nonprofit organization. Amanda and I worked to recruit a small but hard working group of directors and Susan Stansbury of the Valley of Heart’s Delight connected me with East Palo Alto Charter School. EPACS principal, Kristyn Klei, generously provided office and garden space, grant money, and enthusiastic support.

I began working at EPACS in January of 2003 and was immediately impressed by the staff and students. In order to better serve our new school partner, our programs and mission began to evolve. Collective Roots partnered with other community-based organizations to provide an integrated garden-based science curriculum to students in kindergarten through eighth grades. We also developed an innovative Garden Elective class for middle school students. It was not long before we began adding staff and planning our expansion to other schools within the district.

Over the years, I had the privilege to work in many capacities for Collective Roots. I loved spending lots of time in the garden with students and community members in the early years. And despite my phobia of asking people for money, I was motivated to learn more about fundraising when I became the organization’s first director. After having my daughter, Ava in 2005, I stepped down as director and began working part-time on nutrition education efforts.

I left the organization in April of 2007 to move back to North Carolina. After 8 years in the Bay Area and 7 with Collective Roots, it was time to be closer to family. I currently spend lots of time exploring the world and cooking with my 2 year old daughter and my husband, Adam Mitchell. We’re excited to finally have a small yard and are looking forward to planting our first edible home garden this spring.

I am thrilled that much of what I dreamed would happen is becoming a reality. Collective Roots is now partnering with two schools in the Ravenswood School District, EPACS students have daily access to fresh, organic foods in their school cafeteria, and Collective Roots is helping launch a community farmers market in East Palo Alto in 2008. The organization is flourishing thanks to a dedicated board and staff along with incredible community supporters. I know the best is yet to come for Collective Roots!

Please consider honoring the legacy of Holly Taylor's work by helping Collective Roots establish a Farmer's Market in East Palo Alto.

Saree Mading, Board Member and Administrator at East Palo Alto Charter School, has written an amazing letter about Collective Roots' initiative to develop the East Palo Alto Community Farmers’ Market. If you have a few minutes, please click here to view this inspiring letter. Once you have read Saree’s letter and have reviewed the programs that are featured on this website, you will surely be inspired to make a donation to Collective Roots.

Nearly 40% of Collective Roots' budget is contributed in-kind. This means that every dollar you give is matched with the generosity of others that stretches precious resources even further. Collective Roots offers a variety of ways for donors to make a contribution. Collective Roots can mail you a letter (the old-fashioned way) with a remit envelope, or you can simply click here to make a tax-deductible donation online. The online donation form is easy to use and only takes a couple of minutes.

There are many ways that you can join the efforts and support the work of Collective Roots. Perhaps you might like to become a volunteer? Please review Collective Roots' many volunteer opportunities by clicking here.