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| | UC Berkeley students working at the Oxford Tract farm. Photo credit: M Stookey |
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Sustainable Urban Farming for
Resilience and Food Security
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In this issue:
- UC Berkeley students discover the power and promise of urban farming
- Upcoming local events & funding opportunities
- Job announcements
Got news? If you're receiving this, you're doing work we'd like to share with our 800+ person network. Please send your news, events and job openings to growingroots@berkeley.edu.
Share your story! Our 'Know Your Farmer' profiles (re-)introduce you and your farm to the East Bay community. Let us know if you'd like us to feature your work in an upcoming issue!
Email Marit Doshi (Growing Roots Project Manager) at growingroots@berkeley.edu.
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Inspiration for urban farming & agroecology
UC Berkeley student Milton Stookey recently helped support our Sustainable East Bay Urban Farming project work. As he was getting his hands in the soil and tending to food growing, he had several revelations about the power and potential of urban farming and agroecological approaches in a cityscape. Share in Milton's discoveries, published through our project partner Berkeley Food Institute (BFI), around soil, microbial activity, food access and more here.
Milton's stories are echoed and expanded upon by those of two more lit-up UC Berkeley students, Annika Levaggi and Moe Sumino, in their recent BFI blog post. They share about their experiences with several UCB student farms, trying to address food insecurity experienced by UC Berkeley staff and students and supporting groups and organizations like UCB Basic Needs Center's Food Pantry.
These blog posts bring to mind a recent op-ed from none other than NYC farmer and food justice advocate Karen Washington in Civil Eats. In this piece, this long-time, respected political activist and community organizer offers wisdom on how urban ag can fight racism in the food system. The issues and solutions she raises around shifting power dynamics and local control of food and economics formed and inform our ongoing applied research of urban farming and agroecology.
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Local events & resources
Two-part forum series: "The University of California Land Grab" (Sept - Oct)
Upcoming Small/Urban Farm Cover Cropping webinar (Oct 24th)
The Cover Cropping Opportunities in Specialty Crops webinar series, organized by Contra Costa County Resource Conservation District and UC Cooperative Extension, is excited to host farmer Kristyn Leach for the webinar, "Approaches and Techniques for Using Cover Crops on the Small and Urban Farm," on Thursday, October 24th from 10am-11am. Kristyn Leach practices permaculture, organic and traditional Korean farming methods at Namu Farm, a two-acre organic farm that Leach runs in partnership with the restaurant Namu Gaji. Leach grows over 60-80 crops each year and is an avid seed saver of Korean specialty crops. Leach employs cover cropping methods like cereal heavy cover cropping with plants like barley, oats, Dundale peas and common vetch. Check back here in a few days to find updated information and registration for this free webinar.
Sign-up open for USDA assistance for ranchers & farmers during pandemic
USDA to provide additional direct assistance to farmers and ranchers impacted by the coronavirus. Read the press release for more information. Impacted and eligible farmers and ranchers will be able to sign up for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP 2) through December 11, 2020. CNPS Fire Recovery Guide The California Native Plant Society has a Fire Recovery Guide which is free to use. The 92-page guide begins with a brief overview of fire ecology and the ways individual plants and plant communities respond to fire, followed by tools to help landowners assess their property post-fire and common areas of concern like erosion, fire-damaged trees, re-seeding, and defensible space. Please contact Elizabeth Kubey at ekubey@cnps.org with any questions and to inquire about printed copies.
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To share more relevant East Bay urban food community events, trainings, workshops, and other happenings, email growingroots@berkeley.edu. The next newsletter will come out two months from now.
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Funding Opportunities
NOTE: If any of the below opportunities are new to you or you are seeking guidance for applying to state, federal, and private foundation opportunities, reach out to us at growingroots@berkeley.edu. We may be able to support you.
Funding opportunities this month!
CDFA Ag License Plate Grant for ag education - Oct 22 deadline
The California Department of Food and Agriculture's California Agriculture Special Interest License Plate ( CalAgPlate) grant program will fund agricultural education programs. Non-profit farming or food orgs are eligible for Tier 2 funding, with awards ranging from $2,500 to $10,000 per project.
CDFA's Specialty Crop Block Grant Program - Oct 23 deadline
California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is now accepting proposals for the 2020 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program ( SCBGP)! Each year, CDFA conducts a two-phase competitive solicitation process to award funds to projects that enhance the competitiveness of California specialty crops. Grant awards will range from $50,000 to $450,000 per project and projects may last for up to two years and six months. Read this helpful breakdown plus information on regional guiding webinars. Concept paper deadline has been pushed back to Oct 23rd!
Funding opportunities due in November
3 tailored grant opportunities for individual and paired farmers, ranchers, and ag professionals through Western SARE - Nov deadlines
The Western Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education program has three tailored grant opportunities open. The first is for farmers and ranchers ( English and Spanish) to integrate research and education and conduct on-site/on-farm experiments to improve production, marketing, and the environment ( due Nov 2). The next supports pairs of ag professional in collaboration with producers implementing projects to address identified needs in sustainable agriculture ( due Nov 4). The last involves training agricultural professionals to help them spread knowledge about sustainable agriculture concepts and practices( due Nov 12).
Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation grants for education & environmental protection programs - due Nov 10
Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation Grants fund educational programs and environmental protection programs. Grants typically range from $1,000 to $20,000. Applicants are instructed to submit letters of request through snail mail. The two yearly deadlines are November 10 and May 10. Eligibility is restricted to non-profits.
Ongoing funding opportunities
Community and Economic Enhancement Grant Program
The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy has announced the opening of their new Community and Economic Enhancement Grant Program. The program focuses on increasing public access to recreational opportunities in order to promote a robust Delta economy. Other program priorities include recreation and tourism, historic and cultural preservation, and environmental education. They will be accepting concept proposals on a rolling basis.
WCB Riparian Habitat Conservation Program
The California Wildlife Conservation Board's (WCB) Riparian Habitat Conservation Program aims to protect and restore California's ecosystems along rivers and streams (riparian areas). Many East Bay farms and farming orgs do this type of work already! Prospective applicants should first discuss their project with the WCB program manager. A brief concept paper may be requested for an initial evaluation. If appropriate, WCB staff will request the applicant to complete a full application
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Job Announcements
Poll worker for your county
In the past, poll workers have often been older which means that most accustomed poll workers are highly vulnerable to COVID-19. Even with mail-in ballots being provided to every registered Californian voter, the State and all counties need more poll workers! If you sign up and are approved to be a poll worker in your county, you are provided a stipend to cover your civic service time. Learn more and sign up now!
Various positions at Urban Tilth
A mixture of part-time and full-time, applicants for Garden Manager, Farm to Table CSA Membership Engagement Specialist, Operations Manager, and Assistant Bookkeeper are all needed at Urban Tilth (Richmond). Note that some positions have an application due date of Oct 1 and others are open until filled. See here for all positions. More positions opening up soon!
Warehouse Coordinator at Berkeley Food Network
Full-time, paid position (Berkeley). See hereOpen until filled
Operations Manager and Development & Communications Director at Community Agroecology Network
Full-time, paid positions (Santa Cruz). See here. Open until filled
Marketing & Communications Manager at Fresh Approach
Full-time, paid position (Concord). See here. Open until filled
Land Use Researcher at American Farmland Trust
Full-time, paid position (remote). See here. Open until filled
Narrative Strategist at Real Food Real Stories
Negotiable part- to full-time, paid position (Bay Area). See here. Open until filled
Senior Associate: Land Access & Farm Business Education at California FarmLink
Full-time, paid position (Aptos). See here. Due Oct 8
Director of Learning and Program Manager at Stupski Foundation
Full-time, paid positions (San Francisco). See here. Due Oct 15
To share job postings with the Growing Roots network (800+ subscribers!), email growingroots@berkeley.edu.
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