If you want to find out what is going on regarding food & food policy in San Mateo County, don’t miss Food Day on 10/24 at the Foster City Library, sponsored by the San Mateo County Food System Alliance. Not too late to RSVP! Send an email to Juvy Ann Reyes at jareyes@co.sanmateo.ca.us or call 650-573-2398.
This unique slide show will feature the photography of Pescadero resident, Issac Steele. Mike Merritt, State Park Interpretor, will lead participants on this trip through the past which will include over 100 historic, rarely seen photographs of Pie Ranch (formerly Green Oaks Dairy), Pigeon Point Lighthouse, The Pebble Beach Hotel and more. The slide show will start in the historic house at Pie Ranch and will be followed by a tour of the farm. Reservations are required as space is limited!
Where: Pie Ranch, Historic House, 2080 Cabrillo Highway, Pescadero, CA 94060
When: 1pm – 2:30pm Slide Show 3-4pm Tour the Farm
Donation: $5/pp
RSVP: 650-879-0995
Our youth educators, Debbie Harris and Mary Ann Brooks, had a great opportunity this summer to take four students to the Rooted in Community (RIC) National Conference in Philadelphia at the end of July. RIC is a national network of youth and adults focused on youth leadership and youth activism in food justice. The group is working to build healthier communities through agriculture, gardening and environmental justice. This year’s Conference was an inspiring and motivating learning experience for the Pie Ranch students (program participants from Mission and Oceana High Schools). They connected with like-minded youth from all over the country; strategizing together about food systems change and championing food justice. The participants visited urban farm sites throughout Philadelphia, participated in youth-led food justice workshops, and produced a Youth Food Bill of Rights. One of the most exciting moments was when all 170 youth from RIC participated in a rally in front of Philadelphia’s City Hall to educate and familiarize the public about the Youth Food Bill of Rights. The Bill they created can be found online at: www.youthfoodbillofrights.com.
We asked our student participants to share a few thoughts about their experience:
Kevin Martinez, Oceana High School, Pacifica, California
Why did you go to Rooted in Community?
The reason I went to RIC was because I was interested in learning about the Youth Food Bill of Rights. I believe that processed food is not good for our health. I wanted to learn more about healthy eating & how to grow my own crops. The goal that I developed from going to RIC is to change my school cafeteria food menu. It’s important that students get good food. I think healthy food helps our body work better and it also must help our brains.
What were some of your most meaningful experiences at RIC?
Some of my most meaningful experiences were to see how many students were at Philly fighting for what they believe in. And I loved that. It’s important for us teens to know about FOOD JUSTICE.
What change do you want to make in your own community as a result of RIC?
In my community the mayor has been building more houses. I think that instead of building houses they should build a garden. I would take care of the garden if it were to happen. I think I will try to write a letter to the mayor of Pacifica. That’s my next goal.
Naftali Moed, Oceana High School, Pacifica, California
What were some of your most meaningful experiences at RIC?
This year’s RIC conference affirmed my belief that as a youth, I not only have rights but also am capable of empowering myself and others to employ my rights and voice as agents of change in the fight for food justice. I was awakened to the power of social networking tools, as well as the power of youth to initiate change on a larger and more far reaching level.
My most meaningful experience at RIC this year was getting to meet and spend time with members of the UNI crew in Philly and reconnecting with people I met at RIC two years ago. I also greatly enjoyed getting to see both the city of Philadelphia and the fantastic work that UNI and other groups are doing there. Lastly, my respect for the power of photography as well as it’s implications on our perceptions of things has been greatly increased as a result of a workshop I attended at this year’s RIC.
What sort of people did you meet at the Conference?
I met a really interesting group of people from a water rights oriented group in New Mexico this year at RIC. I really enjoyed learning about both their work in the realms of activism and also the work they do with regards to sustainability and self-sufficiency. I met them when we were walking through Penn and one of them pointed out a falcon to me as it hunted for it’s dinner and explained to me the bird’s actions and their significance. I also met a great group of youth from the UNI crew stationed at School of the Future on my site visit there and really enjoyed spending time with them gardening and making popcorn.
What change do you want to make in your own community as a result of RIC?
As a result of RIC, I would like to strengthen my connection to Pie Ranch as well as the connection between Pie Ranch and the work I am doing at Oceana. Having two years ago been inspired to start a garden by RIC, this year I am inspired to redouble my efforts to expand both the garden at Oceana and also the educational components associated with it. I would love to stay involved with RIC and continue to support the great work that we are doing. I am however, often short of time and energy and would like to set a goal for myself of some how remaining involved with RIC either on a planning level or helping to spread the word about the youth food bill of rights over the coming year.
Edilzer Juarez, Mission High School, San Francisco
Why did you go to RIC?
I went to RIC because I wanted to be part of the group and also to know more about our food and where it comes from and how hard our farmers work in order to feed the nation.
What were some of your most meaningful experiences at RIC?
I had some good experiences like meeting young students who have the same goals as we do at Pie Ranch; they are also looking to be able to have more access to fresh produce & to stop the fast food epidemic. Fast food is not healthy but it’s cheaper; that’s why there is so much obesity in this country and we the youth are trying to change it.
What change do you want to make in your own community as a result of RIC?
I want to make some changes in our city or in the school because in school, they give us the most unhealthy lunch! The way that I would like to change this is to go talk to our high school and tell them about RIC. I can also talk to the students & ask them to be a part of our food justice community and talk to some parents as well because they are the ones who bring the food to the table.
We expect great things from these young people! Thank you to all our sponsors for helping these youth learn & grow!
Come learn about
Farm Equipment, Maintenance & Diesel Engines with Jim Leap!
Jim will be covering:
Jim Leap has been farming for 36 years. He started off in Fresno, farming for 10 years before returning to school to pursue a degree in agricultural science at Fresno State (and he kept farming right through school!). Jim went on to manage the 25-acre farm at UC Santa Cruz from 1990-2010 where he designed crop systems, oversaw production, purchased and maintained equipment, taught 40 apprentices per year, supervised staff, coordinated field research, helped write training manuals, and educated students and visitors about the farm. In March, 2009, Jim was recognized with the UC Small Farm Program’s Pedro Ilic Award for Outstanding Educator. The honor is named for an influential Fresno County small-farm advisor who was an important mentor to Leap. Since 2010 Jim has been the Field Technician for the Organic Program at USDA/Salinas.
When? Friday, September 30th 3-6pm
Where? Pie Ranch, 2080 Cabrillo Highway, Pescadero, CA
Cost: Sliding scale $5-20/person
RSVP to nancy@pieranch.org
This August has been a busy time for us here at Pie Ranch. In addition to being one of the peak months for harvesting, we have also been engaged in hosting & teaching potential farmers, budding activists & volunteers.
A group of 9 students from the Stanford-based organization, Volunteers in Asia , came for a full program & overnight experience at Pie Ranch. VIA is a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing understanding between the United States & Asia. VIA provides innovative experiential learning programs in Asia & the US that promote cross-cultural understanding, build partnerships, and offer transformative experiences for the participants & the communities they serve. The group had just arrived in the country for a month long service-learning program where they engaged in issues around health, education, environment, and poverty with a number of Bay Area organizations. Participants included students from Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan—for most of them it was their first time in California, not to mention camping on a farm! The students toured Pie Ranch, engaged in farm activities, harvested & prepared meals together in our outdoor kitchen, and learned the fine skill of making strawberry-rhubarb pie from scratch!
38 apprentices from the UC Santa Cruz Farm Apprenticeship in Ecological Horticulture came for a 2-hour tour of Pie Ranch as a part of a field trip to farms in the Pescadero area. The Apprenticeship in Ecological Horticulture is an educational program created by the Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems (CASFS) located on the UC Santa Cruz campus. Since 1967, 1400 graduates have gone on to apply their training in a variety of ways around the world: developing their own commercial farms, market gardens, and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) projects, starting inner-city community gardens, working as environmental educators, participating in international rural development projects, managing organic landscaping businesses, and pursuing degrees in agricultural studies.
A group of 30 international students from UC Berkeley’s summer youth program focusing on global climate change came for an in-depth tour of Pie Ranch. The group learned about Pie Ranch’s farming practices and how we can shift agriculture to use sustainable methods such as reducing off-farm inputs, using alternative energy on the farm, carbon sequestration through low tillage, diverse cropping, cover cropping & semi-permanent pasture.
10 young women from the Standing Against Global Exploitation project (SAGE) came for a 2-hour tour of Pie Ranch where they got to hold our chickens, collect eggs, feed the goats, and learn about healthy & diverse food crops. We talked a lot about how diversity in cropping, chickens, and human communities results in resiliency and health. The Standing Against Global Exploitation Project—or the SAGE Project—is a nonprofit organization with one primary aim: bringing an end to the commercial sexual exploitation of children and adults (CSE/CSEC). SAGE contributes to that goal by raising awareness about CSE/CSEC issues, and by providing outreach and services to CSE/CSEC survivors.
