Revolution. Evolution. Solution. What’s a Veggielution? We are changing the way people eat. Every week community members come to the farm and work the land – learning gardening skills, building community, and growing food that goes to soup kitchens and our low cost Farmstand. Teenagers in our VeggieYouth program learn about nutrition, cooking, food [...]]]> Dear Veggielutionaries,

Revolution. Evolution. Solution. What’s a Veggielution? We are changing the way people eat. Every week community members come to the farm and work the land – learning gardening skills, building community, and growing food that goes to soup kitchens and our low cost Farmstand. Teenagers in our VeggieYouth program learn about nutrition, cooking, food justice, teamwork, and effective communication through working on the farm.

Veggielution has come a long way since our inception 3 years ago in backyard gardens near San Jose State University. If we are going to keep our programs running, we need your support now. Please help us through this critical time. Our goal is to raise $25,000 by the night of our Fundraiser Dinner, Sept. 11th. Our progress will be updated regularly on our website.

Here’s how you can help:

Purchase a Ticket for the Bounty of Heart’s Delight: Veggielution’s Annual Fundraiser Dinner – $100

Purchase a Table at the Fundraiser Dinner and selling tickets to your friends – $1000

Host your own fundraising event like a summer BBQ to raise funds for Veggielution

Donate Money, any amount helps. Here is what your dollars could support:

- $1000 – Entire program cost for one participant in Fall VeggieYouth Leadership Program
- $600 – 1 Summer VeggieYouth stipend
- $125 – 100 lbs fresh produce donated to those in need
- $60 – Chicken feed for 1 month

Please act now and help us reach our goal. The survival of our programs depends on it!

Sincerely,

Amie Frisch
Director, Veggielution

Our Members can expect to be fully integrated into the Veggielution team, where we emphasize open communication, innovation, and taking personal responsibility for your own success. We are looking for self-motivated people who are ready to become [...]]]> We are now accepting applications one full time and one quarter time AmeriCorps positions through the Silicon Valley HealthCorps.

Our Members can expect to be fully integrated into the Veggielution team, where we emphasize open communication, innovation, and taking personal responsibility for your own success. We are looking for self-motivated people who are ready to become a major part of our farm community.

Full Time Member: Farm Crew/VeggieYouth

This position is closely involved with running both the farm and VeggieYouth. You will work closely with the Farm Manager to help with all aspects of running the farm, including facilitating volunteer workdays, food distribution, and taking the lead on some farm projects. You will also work closely with the Youth Program Coordinator as you help facilitate all youth programs and lead the farm work aspect of the program.

Quarter Time Members: Community Education

This position is focused primarily on educating the community. You will schedule and help facilitate workshops for community members on various cooking and gardening topics. You will also help set up and run the weekly Farmstand on site. You will recruit and retain new volunteers through our website, email, facebook, flyer distribution, and tabling. There will be 2 people working together to share the duties of this position.

Click here for more details and to apply.

Saturdays 10a to 2p.

If you haven’t been to our farmstand in a while, now is a great time to come back! Our early taste tests say that this summer is going to be amazingly delicious. We will be selling [...]]]> Don’t forget about our change in Farmstand hours coming up this Saturday. Our new hours are:

Saturdays 10a to 2p.

If you haven’t been to our farmstand in a while, now is a great time to come back! Our early taste tests say that this summer is going to be amazingly delicious. We will be selling our first tomatoes, an early variety called Stupice. We only have a limited quantity, so come early before we run out. The same goes for our early peppers. You will also find plenty of zucchini and crookneck squash, green onions, cucumbers, basil, potatoes, green beans, rosemary, mint, cut flowers, and t-shirts.

In the coming weeks you can expect an overflowing abundance of tomatoes and peppers, along with everything listed above plus melons, okra, winter squash, sweet corn, taro, oregano, marjoram, parsley, and more.

Please come out and support Veggielution!

Also please note [...]]]>

New Farmstand Hours

Starting July 11th, our Farmstand will be open on Saturdays from 10a to 2p. In July, you can expect to find an abundance of summer veggies, including tomato, zucchini, cucumber, onion, basil, green beans, and more. You will also find some seedlings to add to your home garden, and t-shirts for sale too!

Also please note that our Farmstand and Workday are cancelled July 3rd due to the holiday weekend.

Veggielution Partners with Kaiser San Jose

Veggielution is thrilled to announce our new partnership with Kaiser San Jose to implement VeggieYouth and outreach to the Mayfair Neighborhood which is adjacent to the farm. We aim to bring together diverse youth and adults through the shared experience of growing, cooking, and eating fresh healthy foods – capitalizing on the rich cultural and culinary traditions of the Mayfair neighborhood and San Jose at large. We are excited for this opportunity to develop and deepen our programs to reach more of our community. Thanks Kaiser San Jose!

Thank you for supporting our Strawberry Jam!

Veggielution Community Farm’s first-ever benefit concert—Strawberry Jam—was tons of fun, and a huge success. We were all very pleased with the amount of money we raised as well as the act of bringing many Veggielution fans together.

To the bands, thank you so much for bringing your musical talent and words of support to the stage. To the companies that contributed donations to our raffle, thank you for your generosity. To the volunteers who stepped up to make this happen, thank you for your many hours before and during the concert that went unseen that night.

To everyone who attended or otherwise showed support, we really appreciate it. We hope you had fun while also helping us financially in a big way.

Read full thank you.

Workshop: Handy Herbs, Saturday 7/31/10

Herbs have been used for centuries for their nutritional, culinary and medicinal properties. We’ll learn the best ways to grow these beneficial plants and how to store them so that they’re ready when you need them. Add to your garden tasty herbs like cilantro, arugula, mint, basil, and more. Here you’ll discover how you can use herbs to combat those winter colds and jazz up your home cooking! Saturday, July 31st at 1:30 pm. Click here to sign up.

Summer VeggieYouth Begins

Last Wednesday, June 23rd Veggielution was excited to welcome 17 youth into our summer program!  We have hired local teenagers to work as part of Veggielution’s new youth program, VeggieYouth.  The teenagers will be at Veggielution Wednesday through Saturday for a total of 20 hours per week.  They will put in many hours of farmwork while also learning about sustainable food production, health, and the food system.  The teenagers will also be cooking for each other twice a week, taking home produce and taking field trips to local soup kitchens and production farms.  Help us welcome our new summer youth when you see them on workdays and during the Saturday potluck!

A Garden Where Every Child Belongs

Last family day was a very special time for Veggielution families.  Besides having over 30 parents and young children to tour the farm and participate in farm-related activities, Veggielution also hosted a special blessing ceremony.  The ceremony, which followed indigenous Mexican traditions, was to bless Veggielution’s new children’s garden.  The garden is named A Garden Where Every Child Belongs features two spiraling beds, representing the dual male and female energy.  The male strip is planted with strong sprouting corn while the female strip is planted with sweet, nurturing cherry tomatoes and marigolds.  The planting was done by children, parents and volunteers as a part of the ceremony.  The two strips meet in the middle, representing union of the different forces.  The entrance is to the east, honoring the rising son and is marked by sprouting willow branches.  Although still a work in progress, the space is already introducing children to the wonders of life that can be found in a garden.  As we continue to cultivate this space, we invite you and your children to nurture a plant or flower.

New Committees and Teams: Get More Involved

Veggielution’s Committees and Teams are how volunteers can get involved beyond just coming to workdays. Each group offers a different way to get involved, so choose the one that interests you the most. We have 3 committees, Outreach/Education, Farm Planning, and Fundraising. Under each committee there are teams working on different projects such as helping with workdays, the Farmstand, chicken care, Family Day, event planning, canvassing the neighborhood, and tabling. This is a great chance for you to get involved in the inner workings of Veggielution and help in a big way. Learn more on our website.

Volunteer of the Month: Diana Foss

How has she not been it before? This is certainly the question I asked myself when contemplating the June newsletter.  Diana Foss does so much for us at the farm that she is practically a staff member, and it’s hard to imagine the farm without all of her dedicated work.

Diana now serves on our Board of Directors as the President.  Besides being a strong directing force in Veggielution’s future, she is very engaged in the present.  Ever wonder where those freshly made dishes come from every Saturday?  Diana was the first one to bring camping stoves and start cooking at the farm for our potluck.  She is also leading the Summer VeggieYouth in their weekly Thursday and Saturday cooking.  And let us not forget that the wonderful fundraiser banquet Veggielution had last October was planned and cooked by Diana, with assistance all under her guiding force.

And these are just the contributions we can enumerate from Diana.  There are a countless number of small tasks, quick favors, insights or suggestions that have been invaluable in the functioning of Veggielution.  We truly would not be this far along without her thoughtful and passionate contributions.  Thank you Diana!

State of the Farm

I can feel it coming… summer that is.  The heat, as well as green tomatoes, are both signs of what is to come.  Most of our winter- friendly brassica crops have pettered out with the exception of our every-hardy collard greens.  A few other spring crops- beets, chard, and lettuce- are also hanging on.  Our wildflowers, which peaked in spring, are also still blooming, but even the presence of these have started to fade as they melt into the summer heat.

Why the lull? you may ask.  Well, it is merely a short lull in what is about to be an onslaught of summer crops that is coming.  We have already started to harvest a small number of zucchini.  The few that we have harvested are both delicious and exciting, but is truly a paltry amount compared to the massive volumes we can anticipate.  Similarly, the peppers and eggplants are readying themselves for a fruitful summer.

Perhaps the most exciting news that I can report in regards to summer crops is this: last Saturday, I had the great joy of eating my first summer tomato!  Granted, it was cherry tomato, a small, yellow sungold, and yes the skin was a little tough.  But the taste was sweet and the message clear: summer is here!

Veggie of the Month: Zucchini

Zucca is the Italian word for squash of any kind, and “ini” is the affectionate diminutive plural. Strictly speaking, one would be a zucchino, but who says panino, either? Despite the Italian name, all squash are native to the New World, and they’re all very closely related, mostly the species Curcurbita pepo. Squash, melons, gourds and cucumbers are all part of the curcurbit family.

We also call zukes “summer squash” in English, referring to the fact that we pick and eat them when they’re small and immature. If you’ve ever been out picking in late summer and unearthed a monster zucchini, and then tried to eat it, you know that they get unpleasantly watery and stringy when they get too big, Pick zucchini when they’re no more than 8 inches long. You can even pick them when they’re tiny little babies, with their flowers still attached, and saute them briefly.

Everyone loves zucchini bread, and it’s a good way to use up a big pile of squash. Here’s a recipe with chocolate.

Chocolate Zucchini Bread
3 Eggs
1 cup Vegetable oil
2 cups Sugar
1 tablespoon Vanilla extract
2 cups Shredded zucchini
2 1/2 cups Flour
1/2 cup Cocoa
1 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon Baking powder

In a mixing bowl, beat eggs, oil, sugar and vanilla. Stir in zucchini. Combine dry ingredients; add to zucchini mixture
and mix well. Pour into 2 greased 8 x 4 x 2 loaf pans.

Bake at 350 for hour or until bread tests done.

Yield: 2 loaves.

Get Involved…

Please join us at our harvest or workday times!

Tuesday: Harvest 8:30a-10a

Wednesday: Workday 2p-4:30p

Thursday: Harvest 8:30a-10a

Saturday: Workday10a-12:30p, Potluck 12:30p-1:30p

Click here for more details on our website

Subscribe

Join our email list to receive this newsletter

Be our fan on Facebook

Veggielution Community Farm’s first-ever benefit concert—Strawberry Jam—was a LOT of fun, and a huge success. We were all very pleased with the amount of money we raised as well as the less tangible rewards of bringing many Veggielution fans together. As always, this was a group effort.

To the bands, thank you so much [...]]]> Dear Veggielution supporters,

Veggielution Community Farm’s first-ever benefit concert—Strawberry Jam—was a LOT of fun, and a huge success. We were all very pleased with the amount of money we raised as well as the less tangible rewards of bringing many Veggielution fans together. As always, this was a group effort.

To the bands, thank you so much for bringing your musical talent and words of support to the stage. We had a mix of musical styles that showed the kind of diversity we aim for at Veggielution. We were thrilled to have 15mm, The Emerald Hill, Los Hot Boxers and Panthelion be a part of the evening, and we hope to see you at the farm some day!

To the companies that contributed donations to our raffle, thank you for your generosity. We’d especially like to thank South First Billiards for hosting the show and donating generously to the raffle. Veggielution and its supporters will also remember Downtown Yoga Shala, Good Karma Cafe, REI, Payless Nursery and Hardware, and Philz Coffee. The excitement and cheers we saw while raffling off these attractive donations were a vibrant part of the evening.

To the volunteers who stepped up to make this happen, thank you for your many hours before and during the concert that went unseen that night. Everyone had a lot of fun and enjoyed the results. You should be proud of the money you raised, Veggielution’s increased exposure in the community, and the unique sense of unity and camaraderie you created that night.

To everyone who attended or otherwise showed support, we really appreciate it. It was important to us to see all your faces and bring everyone together for a good time. We hope you had fun while also helping us financially in a big way.

Thank you all!

Worm Regards,

The Veggielution Community Outreach Committee

Cody Kraatz                                    Amie Frisch                                                Annie Chang

Zan Walker                                    Monica Lisa Benavides                        Joycee Benavides

Veggielution has entered an exciting new phase with our brand new Board of Directors! Our organization has been growing by leaps and bounds, and forming a board is an important milestone. This group has already shown amazing dedication to our cause, and many of them have been integral [...]]]>

Welcome Board of Directors

Photo Credit: Travis Smith

Veggielution has entered an exciting new phase with our brand new Board of Directors! Our organization has been growing by leaps and bounds, and forming a board is an important milestone. This group has already shown amazing dedication to our cause, and many of them have been integral to the Veggielution team for a while already. We feel very lucky to have these talented folks working with us. Here they are:

• Diana Foss, Board President
• Sarah Gallardo, Board Secretary
• Bernardo Murillo, Board Treasurer
• Liz Snyder, Board Member
• Annie Chang, Board Member
• Walker Kellogg, Board Member
• Monica Lisa Benavides, Board Member

Party For a Cause – Strawberry Jam Benefit Show

Saturday June 5th, 9pm

South First Billiards, 420 S 1st St San Jose

Come party with us at Veggielution’s  first ever benefit concert!  Bring your friends out for a great night of music and fun at South First Billiards on Saturday June 5th starting at 9:00pm.  For a minimum donation of $10, you can play pool and enjoy performances by local bands 15mm, The Emerald Hill, Los Hot Boxers and Panthelion.  The proceeds will go to support our Summer Youth Program and the daily operations of our farm.   The show is 21+ and a valid ID is required.  You can find more details on Facebook or our website.

Looking for Youth Program Interns

Looking for a good way to spend your summer?  What about putting some of your time into working with teenagers on a farm?  Well, lucky for you, Veggielution is still looking for Youth Program Interns.  If you are interested, please visit our website for details and application information.  The internships are offered on a rolling basis, so the sooner the better!

Successful VeggieYouth Spring Ends, Gearing Up for Summer

After a Fall 2009 pilot program and a winter spent researching and revamping, VeggieYouth Spring was a huge success!  Lead by Youth Program Coordinators Jessie Nichols and Sally Neas, the program was an 8 week extracurricular program.  Thirteen teenagers spent Thursday afternoons and Saturday mornings  learning about agriculture, the food system, and cooking, with plenty of time for silliness and fun.  The program was featured in the San Jose Mercury news on May 12th, click here to see the online article.

Without missing a beat, VeggieYouth is now gearing up for the paid summer wherein the youth will spend 20 hours a week working on the farm, as well as learning about agriculture, cooking, nutrition, the food system, and taking field trips.  With only 17 available positions, we received a huge amount of interest from local youth with over 100 applicants for the program.  Great to see so many folks interested in what we are doing!

Healthy Cooking Classes Come to Veggielution

This spring, Veggielution launched its first Operation Frontline cooking class in partnership with the Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association. Operation Frontline classes help low-income families gain the cooking and nutrition skills they need to prepare simple, healthy meals on a budget. The bilingual classes meet for two hours a week for six weeks. In each class, participants prepare and eat a meal together, and leave with a bag of food to make that day’s recipes at home. Classes are taught by volunteer chefs, nutritionists, dieticians, and foodies working in teams. If you are interested in become an Operation Frontline volunteer, please contact us!

Obesity and Diabetes Prevention Program Explore Ancestral Sustainable Gardening

Women and their children from the Obesity and Diabetes Prevention Program at Somos Mayfair transcended into their Indigenous Ancestry for a five-week program at Veggielution.  In this program, they will learn about restoring health by growing and incorporating native foods in their diet.  The first class began with a blessing ceremony. The ceremony utilized atole blanco, a traditional breakfast drink made of ground white corn, and Copal incense to give thanks and blessings to the seeds and all elements that give life.  Maize was then planted in a significant Quintet, which symbolizes the Hand: Communal Work, Strength, Creativity, Unity with Differences and Similarities.  The group created an altar to the east of the plot, which include Metl, or Blue Agave. In the next few weeks the group will be re-introduced to forgotten crops such as amaranth and chia, and other medicinal herbs.

Chickens Move into New Home

You may notice that there is a new building at the farm, and it recently welcomed its new residents as well!  After lots of work and many hours, the chicken coop has been completed and the chickens have moved in.  The coop was designed by Daniel Cilli and construction was headed up by JD Stager (JD is an awesome General Contractor who would love to work on your home. http://www.stager-construction.com).  We used as many reclaimed materials as possible – including old redwood fence boards as siding. Thanks to both volunteers for their hard work, as well as many others who helped along the way.

State of the Farm Address

With winter crops fading out and summer crops coming it, Veggielution is on the cusp of the important transition into summer.  This may have yielded a small lull in production, but certainly not in work!  Most of the our cover crops and winter crops have been turned under, either by hand, with our new walk behind tractor or by the park’s tractor.  We are now busily in the process of forming beds, laying irrigation and planting.

As if planting wasn’t enough to keep us busy, there is plenty else going on.  The East Plot is being planted as a fresh picked herb and flower garden and the north section of the Original Plot is being reworked into a children’s garden.  Additionally, we are busy with the crops that are currently in the ground: peas, fava beans, lettuce, broccoli, onions and garlic.

Surely there will always be plenty of work to do, but let us not forget how much work we have already done.  A good portion of the Acre and Original Plot have already been planted in summer crops: cucumbers, pole beans, soy beans, squash, tomotoes, peppers, and corn to name a few.  It has been exhausting work but it has been inspiring to see the Veggielution community pulling together to get things done.  Also, we shouldn’t loose sight of the rewards of our hard work.  We on the farm can hardly wait for that bite into the first summer tomato!

Volunteer Spotlight: Annie Chang

A few weeks ago, the youth program found itself in a bind: we needed to get seven youth and two adults up to the East Bay area for a youth conference, but only had one car.  It seemed hopeless until Sally got an email from Annie Chang saying she would happily drive a carful up that way.  She has also taken good care of our baby chicks during their delicate first weeks of life.  And have you ever wondered where those big pots of warm, tasty beans or rice come from on Saturday?

We could all go on about the generous work that Annie has done for individuals and for the farm.  She reliably comes out every Saturday to help turn the compost, organize the potluck, and fill in wherever she is needed.   She is involved in a number of other tasks: helping with Family Day, organizing for the outreach committee, helping with chicken care and recruiting volunteers.  She started coming out after learning about agriculture from an international perspective.  ”I saw Veggielution as a way to think global and act local.”  Like many at Veggielution, she is interested in creating a vibrant community here in Silicon Valley.  ”I don’t think people were meant to live the way they do here- in isolated house.  Veggielution is an interesting conjunction between many points- health, community, the environment and much else”.  Her passion and caring shines through in all the work she does- we are lucky to have such a dedicated volunteer at Veggielution! We are also very lucky to have Annie join our brand new Board of Directors.

Veggie of the Month: Spring Onion

Spring onions, which are bulbing onions harvested young, are in the Allium genus, along with leeks, shallots,  and garlic.  Onions are reputed to have a number of health benefits, from being antibacterial and antiseptic, to improving bone health and preventing tumor growth.   Spring onions can replace scallions or regular onions, and they’re a great treat grilled briefly on the barbeque. Onions are a very ancient vegetable, used in every cuisine around the globe.

Here’s a Asian-flavored, condiment-like sauce that features the fresh taste of spring onions. Use it on noodles, rice, or grilled meat.

Ginger Spring Onion Sauce

• one bunch spring onions (1/2 pound) — choose fresh ones with vibrant green stalks, and no yellowed or browned parts
• one knob fresh ginger, the size of the end of your thumb
• 2 tablespoons neutral-flavored vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon sherry vinegar

Trim the onions, removing the root part and the tips of the greens if slightly bruised. Slice them finely, and place in a medium bowl. Peel the ginger using the tip of an upturned spoon and grate it finely — using a box grater, a ceramic grater or your impressive knife skills. Add the grated ginger to the bowl.

Add the oil, soy sauce, and vinegar, and toss well. Let rest for 15 to 20 minutes at room temperature before using, so the scallions will settle and the flavors will come together. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Leftovers will keep in the fridge for a day or two, well covered.

Get Involved…

Please join us at our  harvest or workday times!

Tuesday: Harvest 8:30a-10a

Wednesday: Workday 2p-4:30p

Thursday: Harvest 8:30a-10a

Saturday: Workday10a-12:30p, Potluck 12:30p-1:30p

Click here for more details on our website.

Subscribe

Join our email list to receive this newsletter.

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Friday May 28, 2010

7:00 PM

San Jose Peace and Justice Center

48 S. Seventh St, San Jose

Between Santa Clara and San [...]]]> The Garden follows the powerful story of a 14 acre community garden in South Central Los Angeles.  A community group called The Edge will be hosting a screening of the film tonight in downtown San Jose.

Friday May 28, 2010

7:00 PM

San Jose Peace and Justice Center

48 S. Seventh St, San Jose

Between Santa Clara and San Fernando

$5-10 donation (no one  turned away)