Our Education Team member Sandra, Farm Staff members Kathryn and Nnej, and Reentry Coordinator Sol were invited to an event at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center in which they conducted mock job interviews and provided coaching and feedback in order to get them job ready when they come home. In addition, participants boost residents’ self-esteem and sense of worth.

The beauty of this program is that the residents are dedicated to transforming their lives and securing sustainable employment post-release. They voluntarily enrolled and committed to meeting rigorous requirements in order to participate. We are honored to be in solidarity with programs like this, that help incarcerated folks thrive.

What’s the best way to spend the holiday season? At the PJ Food Sovereignty Youth Leadership Program at our Oakland nursery!

We wrapped up an exciting and impactful week with Oakland youth on January 3rd, where participants explored a wide range of important topics, including:

• Healthy cooking and eating
• Mental health and self-care
• Indigenous practices
• Herbal remedies

At the end of the internship, each participant earned a certificate of completion along with their food handler’s card.

It was truly inspiring to see these young leaders come together, build connections, and grow on this sacred land. Their dedication and enthusiasm remind us of the power of collective learning and shared purpose.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this program such a success. We can’t wait to see how these young leaders continue to grow and make an impact in their communities!

The Tree Planting Team is thrilled to announce that they planted a total of 1000 trees in El Sobrante Park Area and flat lands of Oakland this year! It has been heartwarming and gratifying to be able to plant these trees. Besides helping to build a vibrant tree canopy in the city, these trees represent food sovereignty, solidarity, and deeper connection to our histories, our communities, and the land that we live on. 

We are hoping to start a new round of planting sometime in 2025. Stay connected for more info!

To stay warm in the winter months, we made some farm-herb fire cider. We love learning more about the land and our complex relationship with it, so we were excited about the opportunity in mid-December to share knowledge with Sophia Lopez, a Bay Area herbalist, medicine maker, and doula. We made fire cider from many plants growing on the farm, including calamansi, thyme, oregano, rosemary, sage, pomegranate, and rosehips. We add some ginger, turmeric, onion, cayenne, garlic, cinnamon, and cloves, pour in the apple cider vinegar, and now, a month later, we strain, add some farm honey, and we have some immune-boosting, invigorating fire cider perfect for the winter!

The El Sobrante Nursery Team, in collaboration with The Good Table UCC, continues to make huge strides in our renovation and transformation of the former Adachi Nursery into The Good Table Cafe and Nursery! We are very excited to announce that we are on track to open in April. We have begun work on the floors and will begin paving the front lot next week.

Planting Justice is currently seeking applicants for our Good Table Nursery manager position and encourage everyone to apply, especially those who have been impacted by mass incarceration.

Don't forget! Our farmers market is open every Sunday from 10am-2pm at 5166 Sobrante Ave. Come shop for delicious food and incredible art while also popping in to see our progress on the building. Our holiday night market was SUCH a success and we appreciate everyone coming out to support. Expect more night markets in the future!

Transform your outdoor space into a thriving winter haven with our top-quality, certified organic trees. For a limited time, enjoy 10% off your entire purchase using the code WINTER10 at checkout.

Hurry—this offer ends on March 20!

Shop now at plantingjustice.org/shop and share this offer with friends and family. Let’s grow bountiful food forests in 2025!