We are saddened to share that our beloved co-worker, board member, and neighbor, Luis Ortega Sr., is no longer with us. Luis and his family were returning from a family vacation when they unfortunately suffered a tragic vehicle accident, resulting in the loss of Luis Ortega Sr. Luis was a provider, a family man, and one of the hardest working individuals we have ever met. He always put his family first and worked tirelessly to provide for them. We are extremely saddened by his untimely departure from this Earth. His physical absence is deeply felt throughout Planting Justice, the Sobrante Park Community, and his household. However, his spirit and legacy will forever live on in our hearts, the relationships he cultivated, and at the PJ nursery, where he was one of the first employees. He played a significant role in the development of the now 8-year-old PJ nursery. We thank Luis for all his contributions over the years. He will forever be missed.

Our Nursery in East Oakland recently received over 1,000 bare root fruit and nut trees in mid-January and all hands were on deck! Our Nursery team is currently diligently working on updating our inventory stock. Make sure to visit our Nursery webpage to see what new inventory is available! If the tree or plant you are looking for is not in stock, please add yourself to our waiting list by adding your email. Once the tree and or plant is available you will be notified via email, you must act fast though, our inventory tends to sell out fast specially for high demand items! Also don’t forget to include our nursery coupon code for a sweet discount, you can find the coupon code and the bottom of this newsletter, happy shopping!
 
Aside from our inventory being updated we recently had the Co-Founder of Fresh Future Farm, Germaine Jenkins visit in the month of January. Germaine came to admire our beautiful work, experience our model in action, and learn about our reentry group as well as our propagation team. “In 2014, Germaine co-founded Fresh Future Farm on a vacant city lot with limited resources. For the last six years she has led a team that created abundance in a disinvested neighborhood. Jenkins has been featured in Food & Wine, New York Times, Essence Magazine and is now the subject of a full-length documentary describing Fresh Future Farm’s work to build community wealth and creative placemaking.”  We are extremely thankful for the visit, and we look forward to more opportunities for us to collaborate. For more information about Fresh Future Farm, visit their website. visit their website.

Our Nursery team also had the opportunity learn more about roses and how to cultivate them through a workshop that Gregg Lowry put together for our team. Our nursery team had the opportunity to learn about Rose History & Varieties: We explored the rich past and diverse types of roses, perfect for different climates. Organic Rose Care: Learned the secrets to growing roses organically. Pruning Techniques: Hands-on experience in pruning for healthier roses. Propagation Tips: Mastered the art of making rose cuttings.

Our team was also gifted a copy of the “California’s Rose Heritage Journal of the Heritage Rose Foundation”. Thank you, Gregg, for the knowledge you brought to our team as well as the gift. We look forward to more learning opportunities.

Thank you to everyone who joined us to share resources, connect with the community, and network with one another. A special shout-out to our partners and collaborators for their invaluable support and participation
Your contributions and collaborations make a significant difference in strengthening our community.

Sol Mercado participated in a conference advocating for guaranteed income programs aimed at supporting various groups facing significant challenges, including individuals reentering society after incarceration, low-income families, pregnant mothers, and foster youth. The event garnered the attention of notable political figures, with several mayors and senators in attendance, highlighting the importance of the initiative. Additionally, the conference featured Michael Tubbs, who serves as the Special Advisor to California Governor Gavin Newsom for Economic Mobility and Opportunity.

Our Education Team has been teaching students at Dewey Academy the art of cooking and supporting them in obtaining their food handlers certification. In the picture shown above, Tavi and Itzel are preparing Chicken Adobo, cucumber salad, and other delicious treats, demonstrating practical culinary skills.

Our team is also currently working on expanding the school's garden. This includes constructing a pergola, a swale to capture rainwater and redirect it to the ground instead of the drain, and a brick herb spiral for growing culinary herbs.

Additionally, our team is working to enrich the garden's biodiversity by planting a variety of organic fruit trees from our nursery and a selection of culinary herbs. These will be used in the classroom once they are ready for harvest. Stay tuned for more updates!

With the remarkable warmth and backing from our community, our total funds have soared past $1,147,817, propelling us a third of the way towards our ambitious $3 million goal!

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, Jose, 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.

After many months of waiting, we have finally received approval from the county for our fire sprinkler permit! This issue has caused tremendous delays, and we are thrilled to be moving forward. The Planting Justice Farmer's Market, scheduled every Sunday from 12-4 PM on Sobrante Avenue in front of The Good Table, is currently in a holding pattern. We await approval from Public Works for a road closure to support the market. In the meantime, we are seeking vendors to join what will be the first-ever farmer's market in El Sobrante.

Chetwyn Farm Visit

Did you know there’s an avocado wonderland right here in the Bay Area?

and growing conditions as PJ’s Mother Farm in El Sobrante. So this visit and skillshare was a great opportunity for our farm stewards and nursery propagation team to see an established grove a decade in the growing, and to learn some tips and tricks from fab fellow farmer Anna.

Can’t wait to host you on the PJ Mother Farm in the near future!

Owl Box Monitoring

It’s almost time for the Spring Cleaning of the owl boxes!

We have five owl boxes distributed around the 4 acres of the PJ Mother Farm, with at least four pairs of barn owls living in them. Before the barn owls arrived, we had to trap hundreds of gophers over the year to keep them from overrunning the orchard. We lost most of the fig trees and many of the apples. But since putting up the owl boxes a few years ago, we’ve only rarely had to trap gophers–the owls are very effective rodent control!

So for the past few weeks we’ve been monitoring the boxes with a trail camera–and all five boxes are still occupied. With the warm winters here in El Sobrante and an all-you-can eat gopher buffet, why leave?

If they don’t fly off to vacation in the south soon, we’ll have to respectfully ask them to fly into the trees above the creek for an hour or so as we refresh their rooms. We love our barn owls and want them to stay on the farm!

CA Rare Fruit Growers Scion Exchange

The Planting Justice Farm Team will be tabling at the Scion Exchange hosted by California Rare Fruit Growers - Golden Gate Chapter at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill from 11AM-3PM on Sunday, February 11, 2024.

The Scion Exchange is a wonderful opportunity to share / pick up scions of hundreds of different varieties of fruit and nut trees to propagate at home. There are also workshops on how to graft and grow in various microclimates, as well as the opportunity to buy rootstock and have an expert graft the scion right then and there!

The Scion Exchange is also a wonderful opportunity to meet and talk with some of the most knowledgeable and passionate fruit growers in the Bay Area, including the Planting Justice Mother Farm team! Hope to see you there!

Volunteers Welcome!

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

The Catalpa blooms from May to June, with ornamental seed pods maturing from September to October. Its striking features include white, fragrant flowers, giant heart-shaped leaves (7-12 inches long), and dangling bean-like seed pods. The tree's twisting trunk and branches add to its visual appeal.

It's a robust and fast-growing species, thriving in full sun or partial sun/shade. Preferring moist, well-draining soil, it's not particular about soil types. The Catalpa can reach heights of over 50 feet and adapts well to various moisture levels, tolerating both flooding and extreme heat or dryness.

Currently, we have 190 Catalpa trees available in 3x3x9 inch pots, on sale for just $7.00 each. Don't miss out on adding this unique and resilient tree to your collection!

Get ready for winter with our certified organic fruit and nut trees! Transform your garden into a serene, winter wonderland with our high-quality trees. Enjoy a special 10% off your entire order using the discount code WINTER10. Embrace the chilly season with this exclusive online offer at plantingjustice.org/shop. Share this code with your friends and family, and let's cultivate a stunningly picturesque garden together, celebrating the peaceful beauty and bounty of winter!