Veggielution empowers youth and adults from diverse backgrounds to create a sustainable food system in San Jose. Our urban farm engages the community by providing access to healthy and local food, creating youth leadership opportunities, and developing creative solutions to social and environmental justice issues.
Our Fiscal Sponsor: The William James Association
We are currently a project of The William James Association. Based in Santa Cruz, The William James Association promotes work in the arts, environment, education, and community development. It is a non-profit community service corporation operating under Section 501(c)3 of the IRS tax code. Through its Fiscal Sponsorship Program, the Association assists individuals and community organizations consistent with its service mission by providing administrative support, tax-exempt status, and fiscal nsponsorship.
Annual Report 2008
Our Annual Report summarizes Veggielution’s background history, operations, crop yield and financial summary from 2008. We also give a sneak peak of our proposal to create a largescale community farm at Emma Prusch Park. Download our Annual Report here. |
While Santa Clara Valley transformed itself into a bustling urban center, a twelve-acre piece of farmland has sat quietly below San Jose’s central freeway interchange at Emma Prusch Farm Park. In April 2008, the Prusch Farm Park Foundation- a nonprofit that guides decisions at Emma Prusch, adopted the Veggielution Urban Farming Project. That month we were given permission to break ground on a quarter-acre pilot plot looking out over the “Back Twelve.” What started in January 2007 as a grassroots effort to organize organic vegetable production in the backyards of downtown homes has evolved into a community effort to secure land for a large-scale, educational farm.
Core Values
Build Community – We foster positive social interactions between all those who participate in our community farm. Participants should feel as though they are a part of a larger farm community, which is centered on the land that we work, the food that we share, and the understanding that we are all dependent on each other and the natural environment that sustains us.
Embrace Diversity – For this farm community to be viable and to truly represent San Jose, it must include children, teens, adults, and elders from diverse backgrounds. The experiences of recent immigrants, youth, working class people and professionals are equally vital. Many voices will be represented in the decision making at the farm.
Empower Youth – San Jose’s youth will be at the forefront of a changing world with many social and environmental challenges. Our youth programs will empower youth to understand and undertake these challenges. Working on the farm will teach them valuable leadership skills and how to work together in a community.
Create a Sustainable Food System – We recognize that the Santa Clara Valley, its soil, ecosystem, and watershed are important resources for future generations. The way we produce food today has radically changed from the past. Farming chemicals are damaging our natural resources, genetic engineering is changing the nature of the food we eat, and cheap empty calories are causing major public health problems. We will be a catalyst for food system change by educating people about sustainable farming and engaging the community to advocate for policy change.
Project Development TeamAldo Chazaro – Resource Development |
Farm Workday LeadersSean Jones Community Outreach LeadersMonica Lisa Benavides |
