We are thrilled to share that Otis and Covonne were invited to lead a two-day Tree Planting Training in St. Paul, Minneapolis. This training was conducted in collaboration with EFOD (Equitable Food Oriented Development) and hosted in partnership with members of HAFA (Hmong American Farmers Association) on their beautiful 155-acre land.

Special Shout Out
A special shout-out to Germaine and Janssen for their incredible support and collaboration!

Training Highlights
The training covered a variety of important topics, including:

• Propagation 
• Planting zone considerations
• Environmental ideals for transplanting (irrigation, mulching, fruit protection, shade structures, hardening off, etc.)
• Orchard nursery terminology and techniques (scions, growing from seed, propagation, rooting, air layering, chill hours, etc.)
• Pruning trees

Impact
Since the training, the participants have successfully planted over 400 of their own bare root trees, showcasing the positive impact and practical application of the skills they learned.

We were honored to welcome the mayor to Planting Justice recently. She visited because she supports our work and wants to see our organization continue to build tangible solutions to the economic and environmental injustices that plague deep East Oakland, particularly Sobrante Park.

“Recently, I had the opportunity to visit Planting Justice located in Sobrante Park and learn about their important work from their incredible staff and volunteers,” the mayor shared. 

Planting Justice provides sustainable living-wage jobs, food access, and holistic programming for communities impacted by mass incarceration.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Mayor Thao for her support and for recognizing the importance of our mission. 

New Partnership with Lionel Wilson Prep Academy
We are thrilled to announce our new partnership with Lionel Wilson Prep Academy.

Garden Bed Preparation: Phase One Completed
We’ve successfully completed Phase One of our garden bed preparation project. The pine tree that was in the way has been removed, and all the wood and branches have been cleared from the space. A big thank you to everyone who helped make this happen!

Looking Ahead: Planning Phase Two
As we move into Phase Two, we’re beginning to plan the layout of the garden beds. This includes selecting the plants and determining the care plan for the garden. Cynthia has been closely involved in this project and will provide more detailed updates soon.

On May 7th, our Reentry staff got to table at the Record Expungement Event hosted by Legal Aid at Work and the Alameda County Public Defender’s Office at Laney College. Some of our Reentry staff were able to apply to get their records expunged. We were able to share a lot of information with many people who showed up to get resources and their records expunged.

We got to sow some Lupine seeds at Alcatraz after our Reentry Coordinator spoke at the Formerly Incarcerated Speaker Series. We planted with Georgia (formerly housed at CCWF), Oliver Goodman (NPS), Lauren Beatty-Harris, Program Director from Insight Garden Program at CCWF, and Troy Williams from Restorative Media and Director of the Formerly Incarcerated Speaker Series.

We were able to have some of Sol’s loved ones, and Maggie Uribe from Freedom School brought some of her students to the Formerly Incarcerated Speaker Series and participated in sowing Lupine seeds at the Alcatraz Gardens. These seeds were from the garden at CCWF, building a connection between the ladies at CCWF, Alcatraz, and the free world.

This month has been really busy for our Reentry Coordinator, meeting other organizations that work with people on Parole and AB109. We are constantly working on building partnerships so that together we can best serve our returning citizens in finding the resources they need.

Finding resources sometimes can be very hard and very frustrating. It is even harder for those who have served a lot of time in prison or never knew that there are resources available for them. If you have any resources available that we can connect our returning citizens with please reach out to our Reentry Coordinator at reentry@plantingjustice.org or at 510-931-6694.

Together we can make a difference in our community. When we have resources available people are more likely to be successful and that is how we end the cycle of recidivism.

Coming up in June: We will be having a Financial Wellness Workshop Series. And there’s more to come... Stay Tuned!!!!

Financial Wellness Workshop Series - 3 Workshops

Workshop 1 - Building a Solid Financial Foundation
Topics covered:

Budgeting basics: Creating and sticking to a Budget Understanding income and expenses Identifying spending habits and making adjustments Setting financial goals for the future

Workshop 2 - Navigating the Financial Landscape
Topics Covered:

Banking essentials: Opening and Managing a bank account Understanding credit: Establishing and maintaining good credit Accessing financial services: Utilizing online banking, direct deposit, and other services Identifying and avoiding financial pitfalls and scams

Workshop 3 - Planning for Financial Success
Topics Covered:

Financial goal setting: Setting SMART financial goals for short-term and long-term success Building financial resilience: Establishing an emergency fund and planning for unexpected expenses

Start Now Personal Spending & Monthly Budget Spreadsheet Downloads
Start Now Personal Spending Spreadsheet
It helps you take a deep dive into your spending habits, identify where your money is going and where your finances are taking you, and more.

Youth Programs and Community Outreach Update

We have some exciting updates on our youth programs and community outreach initiatives!

Dewey Academy Program
We have completed our cooking and gardening sessions with the youth at Dewey Academy and are now looking forward to the new school year.

Internship Program
We are in the final week of our spring internship and are about to transition into the summer internship program. Our internships provide a space for youth to learn how to grow their own food and practice these skills at home. Additionally, we teach them how to use the plants around us for cooking and creating various products. Recently, we made salves using herbs and medicinal plants, where the youth learned about the parts of the plants to use and the process of making healing products.

Free Smoothie Program
We continue our free smoothie distribution to the community every week. Join us on Wednesdays at 10:30 AM at Fruitvale BART Station in the plaza to grab a delicious smoothie packed with fruits and vegetables that your body needs. (Get there early because they run out quickly!) 

Thanks to the incredible support and generosity of our community, our fundraising efforts have surged beyond $1,155,630, 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.

Rough Inspections Passed

We successfully passed our rough inspections of the site! After a lengthy process of revising site plans to include fire sprinklers and their installation, we have cleared a significant hurdle with the county. PG&E has begun work on the gas lines as we move into the next phase of renovating the former Adachi Nursery into The Good Table. We are on track to finish by the end of the year.

Volunteer Days

Join us every last Saturday of the month for our volunteer days and be a part of this incredible transformation!

Farmers Market Success

Our Farmers Market, located directly in front of The Good Table site, has been a tremendous success. Taking place every Sunday from 12-4pm at 5166 Sobrante Ave in El Sobrante, the Planting Justice Farmers Market has completed a full month of bringing fresh organic produce and delicious food grown and made by QTBIPOC and woman-owned businesses to a community that has never had a farmers market before.

If you haven’t visited us yet, come and experience the vibrant community and support local growers and producers!

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!

On the PJ Mother Farm orchard, May becomes busy bee time for our land stewards, buzzing about all 4 acres.

Roses and Grapes
We’ve planted more roses, adding to the 30 varieties alternating with grapes along our north fence.

Innovative Planting
We are trialing a nitrogen-fixing corn variety that adds nutrients to the soil, eliminating the need for companion-plant beans, the traditional “third sister” along with squash planted for ground cover.

Water Management
Our hillside swales effectively slow, spread, and soak up winter and spring rains. While most of California started their sprinklers months ago, we just began turning on the tap. With over 1,000 varieties at the Mother Farm orchard, we have many emitters to check! The main cause of clogs: tiny spiders!

Fertilizing and Harvesting
We’ve started fertilizing the avocados and sapotes and harvesting rhubarb and mulberries. Both the Shangri-la (dark) and Tahoma (white) mulberries are ripe and make a wonderfully refreshing snack while tending the land.

Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers are welcome to join us for rewarding work on the land every Tuesday and Thursday, or every second Saturday of the month. Click here to sign up! 

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!