Perseverance in Perilous Times

January - March Highlights

We kicked off the year with one of our largest MLK Day of Service events in 18 years, bringing together a vibrant community in action. As we step into spring, farm construction is moving forward, volunteers are packing CSA boxes for their neighbors, and Urban Tilth is preparing for the upcoming Climate Justice Alliance national members assembly. We’re also launching the Park Equity Project and expanding the VeggieRx program, creating more opportunities for community connection and access to fresh food! Read on to learn about other news, initiatives, and progress we have been cultivating here at Urban Tilth.

With care,

The Urban Tilth Team

North Richmond Rallies to Save EPA Grant Amid Trump Administration Cancellation Threat

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded the North Richmond Community Resilience Initiative a transformative $19 million grant—a lifeline that promised to reshape the community's future. However, this win was short-lived. After selecting the project, finalizing the contract, and making it active in ASAP, the EPA unexpectedly shut down its environmental justice offices nationwide, suspended this vital grant, and now lists the grant along with 400 others as awaiting cancellation. These projects are shovel-ready; The Resiliency Center, for example, already has building permits, CEQA, along with design plans complete, and the final step is now to secure funding...

UJIMA: Empowering Richmond’s Black Youth through Leadership, Land, and Legacy

Urban Tilth’s UJIMA Program is a powerful initiative rooted in the values of collective responsibility and community empowerment, designed specifically to uplift Richmond’s Black youth. The program creates spaces where young people can reconnect to the land, develop leadership skills, and build confidence — all while contributing to the physical, mental, and spiritual health of their neighborhoods...

The Future of Food at Lawrence Hall of Science

Urban Tilth is excited to be a part of the Future of Food exhibition at the Lawrence Hall of Science. As part of this dynamic exhibition, Urban Tilth is showcasing a video that highlights the important work our organization does in sustainable food systems, community engagement, and environmental stewardship. The Future of Food exhibition explores the pressing global challenges related to food production, sustainability, and innovation, offering visitors a chance to reflect on how food impacts our health, our communities, and our planet...

Dive into the Future of Food and explore the exhibit today!

Watershed Restoration Field Crew: Restoring Land, Empowering Communities

Urban Tilth’s Watershed Restoration Field Crew is a dedicated team of young adult apprentices who transitioned into permanent roles after demonstrating exceptional work in the Basins of Relations Training Program. These Richmond residents have developed an extensive skill set to restore and steward local ecosystems, specializing in native plant reintroduction, invasive species removal, trail maintenance, erosion control, and stormwater management. The crew’s work spans critical sites like Wildcat Creek, Fred Jackson Soils, Albany Hill, and Rheem Creek, emphasizing a whole-watershed approach to ecosystem restoration. Recently, our Watershed Restoration Field Crew played a key role in the successful Rheem Creek Restoration Project, planting 650+ native plants and working alongside several agencies to transform a chronic flooding hazard into a revitalized creek ecosystem...

VeggieRx Is Expanding!

At Urban Tilth, we are continually working to expand access to fresh, healthy produce for those who need it most. Through our Veggie Rx programs, we provide free weekly deliveries of locally grown produce to residents facing chronic health challenges in Richmond and surrounding areas whose Contra Costa Health Plan doctors prescribe fresh produce as a prevention and mitigation strategy.

Our partnerships with LifeLong Medical Center and community initiatives like the TCC program allow us to support patients managing conditions such as diabetes, cancer, and heart failure, high blood pressure and support for prenatal patients.

As demand for these programs continues to grow, we are excited to share that we are expanding eligibility to reach even more community members.

This progress means more Richmond residents will have reliable access to nutritious food as part of their healthcare journey. With support from our partners and funders, we are strengthening our impact and ensuring that fresh, locally grown produce reaches those who need it most.

Learn More

Greener and Cleaner Days Ahead: Urban Tilth Joins the Park Equity Project!

Urban Tilth is excited to announce our participation in the Park Equity Project, led by Rich City Rides, Trust for Public Land, and The Hellman Foundation as part of RichPEP. We are working alongside community partners to ensure Richmond’s green spaces are accessible, well-maintained, and equitably funded. Our team is particularly eager to support efforts that improve park conditions, establish long-term maintenance standards, and secure lasting funding to uphold the vision of equitable green spaces for all Richmond residents. Through this initiative, we look forward to amplifying community voices, fostering meaningful collaboration, and ensuring that Richmond’s parks are not only preserved but actively serve as spaces for healing, education, and resilience-building for generations to come.

Meet Our New Staff!

Alex Connor

Farm Stand Coordinator

Alex is excited to be working at Urban Tilth, helping local communities in Richmond and San Pablo achieve healthy living through food sovereignty, community-building rituals, and activism.

Michelle Besada-Barquis

Fund Development Associate

Having grown up on a farm as a child but spending her adult life in large cities, joining Urban Tilth feels like a dream come true. She loves the community and the connection to farm life just outside the city.

Dee Thompson

Co-Farm Manager and Crop Row Specialist

Dee is excited to join Urban Tilth and continue the farm team's incredible work by supporting the cultivation of new farmers and growing nutritious local produce for the community.