The Farmcast

As this year comes to a close, we are excited to share with you our accomplishments to date as well as the work still ahead. These victories could not have been achieved without your generous support. Whether you joined us at fEAST San José, brought team members from your company out to volunteer with us, or shared a meal with us at 1st Saturday, you were one of the more than 4,000 local residents from diverse backgrounds who have stood with us this year to build community in East San José. In 2018, Veggielution will celebrate our 10th anniversary by recommitting to this important work. As you consider your year-end giving and company matching, I hope you will reflect, as I have, on the impact we build collectively at Veggielution by nourishing our community’s hunger for outdoor learning, strong family ties, and true connection. Amidst the injustice, uncertainty and fear that currently dominates the national dialogue, there has never been a more critical time for strong civic engagement. You have the power to stand in solidarity for inclusive, vibrant public spaces.  

Listen to Emily and Dana reflect on the 1st season of the podcast. You'll hear clips from some of their favorite episodes. We'll be back at it around the end of January with more stories for Season 2!

What does the Grapes of Wrath have in common with Veggielution

Ever wondered what the Youth Garden looked like to a carrot?

What's special about Veggielution's Youth Garden? It's a space for families to connect with the soil, plant seeds and watch them grow for the first time, and learn together. Youth Garden Educator, Jen Agiular, shares some favorite stories and connections from 2015.

Dying for an update on Veggielution's soil health? You'll find it here! Farmers Ryan and Colleen reflect on how their job connects them to the land and foster a deep connection with community.  Episodio 16 disponible en español. Agricultores Ryan y Colleen reflejan en las maneras que sus trabajos conectan a la tierra y la comunidad.  

Listen to former farm intern Jamie Lam re-tell her favorite farm memories and experiences. Jamie is a second year student at UC Davis and a passionate food equality advocate. To steal a phrase from her vocabulary, she's a force to be reckoned with. Jamie adds a whole a lot of laughter and fun to the Veggielution community, and her podcast interview is no exception. 

We love our Farm Box members! Sunday, December 6th was Veggielution's annual Farm Box appreciation lunch and Farmcast co-host, Dana, sat down to hear the stories of our community. 

Long time friend of the farm, Pat Nichols, visited the farm a couple weeks back. Lucky for us, she was eager to sit down with the Farmcasters and talk about her experiences in the garden, and love of language. Pat is a valuable advocate for healthy change in San Jose as a leader of Slow Food South Bay and member of Santa Clara County Food System Alliance. We are grateful to have her enthusiastic support for the future of Veggielution! 

Emily sat down with Michelle Domocol to chat about her new project, Bahay Kubo. Bahay revitalizes Filipino American health, food and culture, through culturally relevant community gardening and environmental education. If you would like more information about Michelle's project or would like to donate please visit the sites below. Bahay Kubo Garden Project www.facebook.com/bahaykubogarden Bahay Kubo Garden Fundraising https://www.generosity.com/community-fundraising/bahay-kubo-garden-matching-funds-challenge

Cayce, Dana, and Emily sit down to reminisce about some of the best memories they have of previous Thanksgivings. Whether it’s the smell of your grandma's kitchen or the annual flag football game, each story holds a special place within our collective memory. As we listen to these stories we all learn that many of them are similar and the connecting factor is coming together around a meal. We hope you enjoy this snapshot of our memories and take a minute to think about some of your favorite thanksgiving times.

Listen to the perspectives, insights, and stories of Volunteer Farmer, Eric. This fall, Eric has been an outstanding help on the farm, and an awesome member of our community who is excited to learn about farming. From all of us at the farm, thanks for your commitment and contributions to Veggielution! 

Ryan and Mika chat about how they decided to become community farmers and what it's like to work here at Veggielution.

The Farmcast presents our Dirt & Honey Series. In this episode, San Jose native, Veggielution outreach intern, and urban farming advocate, Alexis, shares her experiences in Emma Prusch Park as a little girl and a young adult. We dig deep in the DIRT about why our farm is relevant in East San Jose, and talk about memories sweet as HONEY.

Learn how to forage for your drinks at "Garden to Glass,” a craft cocktail workshop to benefit Veggielution Community Farm. Master Forager, Ellen Zachos, will teach us how to forage safely for ingredients and then demonstrate how to create two unique cocktails using plants that you can find in your own neighborhood. Plan on dinner at one of the amazing SoFA Market restaurants and make a night of it! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/garden-to-glass-foraging-mixology-workshop-tickets-19342060624

Sense of place is not an easy topic to cover in one day! Dana sits down with Emily to hear how one can form a sense of place through communication and experience. What kind of sense of place do you have with Veggielution or are you still forming it?

What is life like on Veggielution’s farm crew? The first episode of our Farm Stories series reveals the ups and downs of it. Farm assistant Ryan shares his passion for growing food and being a part of our community...and the story of how our pick-up truck exploded on the way back from a chicken feed delivery.

In the premiere of Kitchen Stories, we talk to Veggielution intern Ana about her family’s kitchen. We get a glimpse into her dining table growing up, and how she’s carried her love of food with her as she’s grown up. We feel lucky to hear her stories and share in her love-filled cooking on the farm!

Last Sunday, Veggielution was at Viva Calle. An event based off Ciclovia, is a Spanish term that means "cycleway", either a permanent bike path or the closing of certain streets to automobiles for cyclists and pedestrians, a practice sometimes called open streets, which has it’s origins in Bogota, Columbia. During the event, we talked with participants about what their seed stories.

We ask Farm Manager Colleen to share her soil expertise, and boy does she deliver in her debut on the Farmcast! Find out how Veggielution is saving our soil this winter, and geek out with us on sustainable farming techniques!

Get to know your hosts, Dana and Emily, as they explore their roots in nature. The Seed Stories series will reveal where our community has planted roots. So far, Farmcasters Emily and Dana have stuck their pins on our community’s map in New Jersey and Wisconsin, respectively, and are continuing to grow roots in San Jose at Veggielution.