nourish the place
A living laboratory demonstrating climate resilience at a neighborhood scale
rising climate resilience
Lasting climate resilience integrates three inseparable pillars: biodiversity, regenerative stewardship, and community leadership.
The EPA projects a 40% increase in agricultural greenhouse gas emissions (Nitrous Oxide, Methane, and Carbon Dioxide) by 2050. —Environment Protection Agency (2025)
the challenge
East San José faces climate and environmental hardships shaped by decades of disinvestment. As federal support for climate action fluctuates, our residents experience degrading ecosystems, rising temperatures and flood risk, and shrinking green spaces.
our belief
Ultimately, local investment in the public realm is the most effective way to secure stability, foster community recovery from environmental shocks, and safeguard our local economies against inflation and climate-driven market shifts. Connecting deeply with the land and building the infrastructure to care for it allows a community to support each other, learn from their environment, and successfully adapt to and shape future changes.
restoring relations that last
Climate resilience has shifted from an abstract concept to a lived, local practice.
our initiatives
Through our community initiatives and farm installations, the Farm functions as essential green infrastructure that supports our ecosystems while building local leadership and environmental education.
Through practices like low-till farming, cover cropping, and crop rotation, we model regenerative agriculture that removes carbon from the air. This approach also boosts biodiversity and improves water retention, helping the land thrive during extreme weather. Our approach is not top-down. Instead, we combine expert knowledge with resident advocacy to empower communities to shape a resilient future. Here, hands-on stewardship and real-world learning turn our natural space into a living classroom.
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![A scenic view of a multi-layered highway overpass surrounded by green trees, cultivated farmland, and a distant city with mountains in the background under a cloudy sky.]()
climate-adaptive methods
Our Farm has long been a testing ground for climate-adaptive planting solutions. We use stormwater management and water conservation to mitigate flooding, engage in soil restoration, and plant drought-tolerant crops.
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Bioswale improvement for flood prevention and clean waterways
Providing university students with a space to test their technological ideas
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![Produce growing on a tree with a person in the background wearing a cap and brown shirt.]()
regenerative stewardship
We revive our habitat with hedgerow planting, re-oaking and pollinator gardens—free of pesticides and synthetic chemicals.
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Hedgerows to restore and strengthen our ecosystem’s biodiversity
Pollinator Gardens to attract bees and pollinators
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![Aerial view of a suburban neighborhood with houses, trees, and streets, and a large parking lot in the lower part of the image.]()
neighborhood-wide change
Integrating environmental restoration with systemic changes in housing and community development.
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![A young girl with brown hair working in the orchards]()
leadership & education
Through our training and youth workforce programs, our residents learn skills to empower their own neighborhood organizations.
