Urban Gardening Initiative – Container Gardening

Sacred Heart Community Services’ La Mesa Verde is a network of gardeners committed to improving the local food system. Authority grant funds were used to strengthen La Mesa Verde’s introductory gardening curriculum, making it more effective, interactive, and consistent with the goal to encourage community leadership and power. The project resulted in an engaging gardening curriculum that builds gardening skills, increases environmental awareness, and grows social connections that inspire a passion and commitment to local food justice.

The Authority contributed funds to the Santa Clara County Food System Alliance project which addresses the issue of economic and social viability of small-scale urban and peri-urban agricultural operations in Santa Clara County. The Alliance will produce a report that highlights potential models for creating successful small-scale agricultural operations and identifies marketing and distribution systems that expand healthy food access by linking a viable urban and peri-urban agricultural system to residents of Santa Clara County, particularly underserved communities. The report will also provide recommendations illustrating how to implement potentially successful models in the county. The data and recommendations in the report will be useful for policymakers, elected officials, partner organizations, beginning and existing small farmers, and they will feed into the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Strategy process and Urban Agriculture Incentive Zone implementation.

The Authority contributed funds towards the County’s efforts to open a new 288-acre urban park on the Martial Cottle Family Ranch. The Cottle family farmed the land for 150 years and the park reflects this agricultural history through providing land for farmers and educational activities. The park also features a trail system and several group picnic areas.