Spotlight on Soulful Seniors: The Heart of Our Garden

At Soulful Seeds, volunteers are the backbone of our success, playing a crucial role in harvesting and distributing fresh produce to our community. Among these dedicated groups, the Soulful Seniors stand out. Meeting every Monday, this remarkable group supports our garden manager, Sage, with essential tasks like harvesting, weeding, and pruning. Just last month, they harvested an impressive 359 pounds of produce, which was then distributed to our garden neighbors. The contributions of groups like Soulful Seniors are invaluable, allowing us to be incredibly productive despite our small staff. We truly couldn’t do it without them!

Introducing our New Executive Director: Cara Montoya

We are thrilled to announce Soulful Seeds' new Executive Director, Cara Montoya! Cara brings a wealth of experience and a deep passion for community service, making her the perfect fit to lead our organization into the future.

Cara’s journey with Soulful Seeds began two years ago, and in that time, she made significant contributions to our mission. She was instrumental in expanding our volunteer program, resulting in an impressive 416 unduplicated volunteers in 2023. Additionally, she has developed our workforce development programs, furthering our impact in the community.

With a Master’s Degree in Social Work, Cara has a professional background in identifying, understanding, and addressing systemic barriers to food insecurity and wellbeing. Her previous roles in the corporate and startup sectors saw her overseeing large teams and improving efficiencies within specialized programs. She also played a key role in enhancing company culture, demonstrating her leadership and commitment to positive change.

Cara is deeply passionate about working with communities to improve access to healthy food, promoting both individual and community wellbeing. As someone who grew up in Reno, she is especially dedicated to giving back to the community she loves, particularly as it continues to grow.

Under Cara’s leadership, Soulful Seeds will continue to thrive and make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve. Please join us in welcoming Cara to her new role!

Certified Arborist Apprenticeship Program: Now Hiring!

We are excited to announce that, thanks to funding from the USDA Division of Urban Forestry, Soulful Seeds will employ two arborist apprentices each year. Last month, the Nevada Apprenticeship Council certified our program, and we are now officially hiring! We are prioritizing these roles for individuals living in the neighborhoods around our gardens and orchards.

We are currently accepting applications. Interested candidates can review the job description here and submit a resume and statement of interest to hello@soulfulseedsnevada.org.

This position will remain open until filled. The apprenticeship requires a 24-month commitment and will provide apprentices in the program with a living wage, full benefits, and all schooling costs covered.

We look forward to welcoming new members and continuing to grow our impact in the community!

Announcing Soulful Seeds' First Urban Orchard

We are thrilled to announce the establishment of Soulful Seeds’ first urban orchard, located on North Virginia at the Care Chest Campus. Installation will be phased over the next two years, starting this year with the planting of 25 fruit trees and 25 berry bushes through our workforce development program.

Care Chest, a local nonprofit that has provided free medical resources to the community for 35 years, is partnering with us on this exciting project. We look forward to nurturing this orchard and enhancing our community’s access to fresh, healthy produce.

Space Still Available for Garlic Class

Don’t miss out on our upcoming garlic class, hosted in partnership with TMCC’s EPIC program! There are still spots available for the sessions on Thursday, September 21 at 5:30pm and Saturday, October 5 at 9am. Join us to learn all about growing and using garlic in your cooking. Sign up today to secure your place!

A Heartfelt Thank You to Susan Mazer and Dallas Smith

We extend our deepest gratitude to Susan and Dallas for hosting a private concert in their home to benefit Soulful Seeds. As internationally recognized musicians with a passion for improving our community, they welcomed 30 guests and helped us raise nearly $4,000. These funds will directly support Soulful Seeds as we kick off our workforce development programs this fall. Thank you to everyone in attendance for your generous support!