Planting Justice wants to thank SFBRA/Measure AA for funding a successful youth internship program! With the support of SFBRA, PJ recruited 27 East Oakland youth to participate in a youth internship program focused on watershed health and education. Youth were paid $17.50/hour to learn how to propagate, identify, plant, maintain, and use edible, medicinal, and native plants along the creek and shoreline, through hands-on activities that resulted in students planting up their own watershed with the plants they themselves propagated.

The knowledge they have gained about the importance of these plants to their local habitat not only increases their knowledge as to why these particular plants are important to the health and wellness of indigenous people, pollinators, the creek, and the numerous endemic species of animals that share the watershed, but also how they themselves can benefit from them by developing stronger connections to natural/wild spaces, knowing how to take cuttings/propagate them for additional planting elsewhere, and knowing how to harvest and use them for edible and medicinal purposes. These connections create lifelong relationships between youth and their watershed and help them develop more pride, awareness, love, and care for the bay shoreline and for East Oakland in general.

The San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority is a regional agency that funds projects that restore, protect and enhance the wetlands and wildlife habitat in the San Francisco Bay and its shoreline.

To learn more about The San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority please visit their website sfbayrestore.org
www.facebook.com/BayRestorationAuthority
twitter.com/SFBayRestore

HandsOn Tomorrow™ is a volunteering enrichment program aimed at developing high school students’ leadership, communication, and project management skills. During this 2-week summer program, students experience up to 60 volunteer hours doing purpose-driven work with various local organizations. Applications live at handsonbayarea.org/tomorrow; students will be entered into a gift card raffle if they apply by April 21, 2024. Need-based scholarships are available.

Welcoming New Team Members

We're thrilled to announce the addition of two dynamic members to our Tree Program Team: Denise Escobar and Armando Escobar. Their expertise will undoubtedly enhance our projects and initiatives.

Expanding Our Mother Team

The Mother Team is also growing stronger with the inclusion of two new members, Kahalla Bandy-Pasibe and Lionel Spicer. Their contributions are crucial as we expand our capacity to nurture and develop our plant offerings.

Internship Collaboration with Latitude High School

This season, we've partnered with Latitude High School to host a group of five interns, providing invaluable support across various departments:

• Two interns are joining our Office Team to assist with inventory management.
• One intern will bolster our Shipping Team, helping to expedite order fulfillment.
• Two interns are set to work with the Mother Team, focusing on propagating seeds and cuttings to ensure ample stock for the upcoming season.

Progress in Plant Propagation and Grafting

Our Propagation Team has been industriously planting more blueberries, strawberries, and other berry plants, which we expect to be available for order in the next month or two. Additionally, we are nearing the completion of grafting new trees for next spring's inventory.

This April, the Central California Women's Facility witnessed a profound initiative led by Sol Mercado, our re-entry coordinator, during National Crime Victim's Awareness Month from April 21-27. In collaboration with Captain Rodriguez, Planting Justice, the Insight Garden Program, and the residents of Housing Unit 512 in C Yard, a deeply meaningful project was undertaken.

Throughout the month, the women at CCWF expressed their desire to commemorate Victim Awareness Month through a poignant horticultural event. Together, they planted over 200 plants across all four units and the Program Office in C Yard. Each plant was accompanied by a beautiful butterfly stand, displaying the name of a victim to honor their memory. The planting was not merely an act of remembrance; it became a powerful moment of communal healing. As the women planted, the air was thick with emotion—many shared heartfelt prayers, shed tears, and expressed profound gratitude for the chance to participate in such a transformative activity. Participants, including those serving life sentences without parole, life sentences, and shorter terms, shared moments of empathy and connection.

Following the planting, Sol Mercado had the privilege of speaking to over 300 women at CCWF, addressing the critical importance of addressing and healing from trauma. She explored the ripple effects of decisions and discussed how personal transformation can break the cycle of recidivism and prevent further harm.

This event highlighted the therapeutic power of plants and the significant role gardening plays in giving new meaning to life and personal tragedies. For many participants, it was their first direct experience with nature. The community built through this event reinforced the importance of nurturing connections with nature as a path to healing.

Green Partnership with Origins

We've partnered with Origins, a cosmetics brand committed to using natural ingredients and promoting sustainability. They've helped us plant the first fruit and nut trees in our new aquaponics farm, which will serve as a nourishing resource for our community for years to come.

Learn more about Origins and their initiatives at https://www.origins.com.

'Sol In The Garden' Screening

The Nursery hosted the 'Sol In The Garden' screening on April 18, and it was an amazing event. We had a great time with friends, enjoying delicious tacos, and shared a moving experience while watching this incredible short film.

The documentary follows Sol Mercado's journey from her challenging past involved in gang violence to finding solace and freedom in gardening while incarcerated. Now a re-entry coordinator at Planting Justice, Sol uses her experience to help others transform their lives through the power of connecting with nature. This film not only tells her story of personal redemption but also highlights the broader impact of gardening on community health and safety.

Enhancing Dewey’s Garden and Gazebo

We’ve been diligently working on Dewey’s garden, planting a variety of trees and plants to enhance its beauty. Additionally, we're in the process of improving the gazebo by creating a new pathway leading to it.

We've also planted passion fruit around the gazebo, with the vision of the vines gracefully growing to envelop it, adding a natural charm and lush greenery to the structure.

Thanks to the incredible support and generosity of our community, our fundraising efforts have surged beyond $1,154,071, pushing us over a third of the way to our ambitious $3 million target!

The aquaponics site is progressing well. We've completed all the demolition work, and cleanup is still underway. Recently, we undertook significant landscaping efforts. A long-time Sobrante Park community member, who specializes in landscaping, did an excellent job clearing the entire lot, removing weeds, and extracting blackberry bramble from the metal fence. We've also begun the process of removing the barbed wire from the front fence. Additionally, we upgraded three EBMUD drainage lines and underwent backflow prevention testing. After making some adjustments to the existing backflow device, we passed the test with flying colors.

Andrew, Jaime, and Silviano have been diligently working on the south house/one-story house. They've successfully installed the internal framing, waterproofing, outdoor panels, and windows.

We are confident that, with the continued support of our community, we will not only reach our $3,000,000 goal but surpass it! We are deeply grateful for everyone's generosity and support thus far.

We will keep you updated on the progress of this campaign and share the latest developments regarding the Aquaponics Incubator Farm. In the meantime, we invite you to watch a powerful video that provides more insights into the future of our Aquaponics Incubator Farm.

There are many ways to support Planting Justice!

You can make a one time, monthly, quarterly, or annual donation. Planting Justice is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with an EIN of 27-0334905 all donations are 100% tax deductible.

Planting Justice also accepts Stock Donations!

Receiving Institution: Charles Schwab & Co.
1945 Northwestern Drive
El Paso, TX 79912
Receiving Account Number: 8239-5748
Receiving Account Name: Planting Justice
DTC Clearing Number: 0164, Code

Not able to contribute financially? No problem! There are still many ways to support us, such as volunteering or sharing our work. Every bit helps and we appreciate your support!

Come join us as a volunteer at our Farm or the Good Table! If you're up for a sunny day amidst fruit trees, shrubs, and fresh grapevines, we've got the perfect spot for you. Can't wait to see you there!

If you’re unable to support us with a monetary donation for fire recovery, please consider volunteering with clean-up efforts at the farm or at the Good Table. Our small but mighty team has been working around the clock to recover, and they could really use some extra hands. You can sign up for the next volunteer day here. 

Wear sturdy shoes and clothing, and bring work gloves. We appreciate each and every one of our supporters and donors. Thank you for all the ways you support Planting Justice. Thank you for growing with us

Your support means the world to us, and we're thrilled to offer you various ways to make a lasting impact. We express our deepest gratitude for all forms of donations, whether they come as one-time contributions or monthly support. As a monthly donor, you become a vital pillar in our mission, providing ongoing sustenance to the work we do. What's more, all donations are 100% tax-deductible, making your contribution even more meaningful.

By joining our community of monthly donors, you embark on a journey of continuous support for our organization's transformative initiatives. Your consistent commitment empowers us to tackle challenges head-on, create sustainable change, and foster a more equitable world. Every donation, regardless of its size, holds immense value to us and the communities we serve.

We invite you to consider becoming a monthly donor, knowing that your generosity will have a profound and lasting impact on the lives of individuals and the larger community. Together, we can sow seeds of hope, cultivate justice, and harvest a future that thrives for all. Thank you for your thoughtful consideration in supporting Planting Justice.

We are very excited to share that our grand opening was a huge success—thank you to everyone who came out to support our vendors!

Our Farmer’s Market is located right in front of The Good Table at 5166 Sobrante Ave, El Sobrante, CA, and it happens every Sunday from noon to 4 PM.

We are thrilled about this location and look forward to making it a staple for many years to come. Come and support all of our wonderful vendors who make this market possible!

Vendors

If you’re interested in joining us, please reach out to our market manager, Sam, at Sam@plantingjustice.org. Keep following our socials for more updates.

Spring has sprung and so have the weeds!

While many “weeds” are beneficial and have medicinal qualities (cleaver, wild radish, thistle, even guardian/poison oak!), the rampant oat grass that grows between and through smothers everything. Then it grows to 7-8’ tall. When dry in June, the sea of invasive oat grass will be a fire hazard, so now while weeds are wet and somewhat short Farm Team members are on a constant carousel of weed whacking. Our 4 acres are on a slope with swales, so no power mowers or tractor attachments can help: it’s all hand-held and provides an opportunity to become one with nature (or at least splattered with it :) 

Before & after photos of weeding during 2nd Saturday Volunteer Day

And Even MORE Planting

Between weed wacking sessions we’ve continued to plant new varieties on the Mother Farm. Recently we planted and mulched over 20 varieties of ceanothus (native California lilac), as well as varieties of Camellia (tea) and blueberries.

We’re very excited to start nurturing tea plants on the land, as it will take at least 2-3 more years before we can start harvesting tea leaves from them. Hope you can join us at The Good Table pay-as-you-can Café in El Sobrante for a cup of quality cha!

Now’s the best time to put fruit trees and berry bushes in the ground, so check out all the amazing varieties we have at our nursery and get planting!

Volunteers and Students Welcome!

The Mother Farm is a wonderful outdoor classroom! 

We were excited to host several classes from various schools in April, including 7th grade students from The Athenian School in Danville. Half the students gathered in the pergola for the unit on Food Sovereignty taught by their teachers, while the other half helped Mother Farm Stewards weed and mulch trees, then after lunch they swapped! Thank you for all your help while learning on the land!

Volunteers are welcome to join us on the land for rewarding work weekly Tuesdays and Thursdays, or every second Saturday of the month.

Click here to sign up!

Wildlife Attraction: Attracts beneficial insects, supporting local biodiversity.
Erosion Control: Excellent for stabilizing erosion-prone areas, thanks to its robust root system.
Versatile Use: Ideal as a pioneer plant, windbreak, or decorative hedge.
Livestock Feed: Can be used to feed livestock, providing a sustainable food source.

Growth & Care:

Height: Grows 6 to 10 feet tall, suitable for various garden sizes.
Hardiness: Thrives in USDA Zones 2-7, withstanding harsh climates.
Container Size: Sold in 3x9" pots, ready for transplantation.

Price: $25.00 each
Availability: Limited quantity of 120 shrubs available.

Welcome spring by rejuvenating your garden with our certified organic fruit and nut trees! Transform your outdoor space into a vibrant spring sanctuary with our top-quality trees. Seize an exclusive 15% discount on your entire purchase by using the promo code SPRINGFORJOY at checkout. Take advantage of this special online offer at plantingjustice.org/shop. Share this code with friends and family, and together, let's create a breathtakingly beautiful garden that celebrates the rejuvenating energy and abundance of spring!