2025 Goals and Plans
We began with a small regenerative ag grow-to-donate farm that grows fruit and veg for food pantries, food banks, and senior centers. We added demonstration farm plots to experiment with CA specialty crops, mentor apprentices, and offer workshops. In 2025 we are adding GrowToDonate.org to scale donations beyond what we can grow on site. We will partner with local farmers (buy at market rate) to pick, pack, and deliver products that may look less than perfect and still taste great. We will transport all to food pantries, food banks, and senior centers. And encourage others to do the same, whether they have one lemon tree in their backyard or a field we can glean. Our workshops will focus on grow-to-donate, specialty crops added to farms, vineyards, and orchards, regenerative ag, and value-added products for farms to sell.
Contributing to food pantries, food banks, and senior centers
In 2024 we donated 5,080 pounds. We have an orchard in year three that hasn’t been in play yet. We plan to increase our onsite deliveries to 7,500 pounds. Our focus will be more on expanding through community efforts than increasing production on site. We will buy a box trailer and cooler to pick up produce we purchase or glean from local farmers or gardeners to increase contributions.
Grow to Donate Community networking
In 2025 we will reach beyond the Central Coast to communities and organizations interested in participating and collaborating to grow, donate, and participate in healthy food supply chains in their region.
CA Specialty Crops and Regenerative Ag workshops and advising
We have ideas on layering profitable crops between vineyard rows or vines, or orchard trees, and at the edges of row crops. We aim to increase yield by adding specialty crops, improving soil regeneration, and enhancing profitability. We will offer specialty crop and regenerative ag workshops and mentoring to gardeners and farmers on value-add options including growing, processing, pricing, and potential return on investment.
We will develop Creative Commons CC BY 4.0, accessibility-compliant content for upskilling and reskilling, emphasizing work-based learning in agriculture. In-person workshops, synchronous online workshops, and asynchronous content will be offered for individuals and schools.
Supporting Ag Apprenticeships
Open Source Agriculture Apprenticeships mentor apprentices (US Department of Labor and CA Division of Apprenticeship Standards) for Occupations:
- Regenerative Agricultural Technicians
- Agricultural Technicians
- Precision Agricultural Technicians
- Environmental Science and Protection Technicians
- Forest and Conservation Technicians
These approved Occupations weave business, technology, farming, and environmental practices to embrace interesting and meaningful careers focused on current and future food providers, stewards of land, and sustainable, profitable businesses. We will collaborate with high schools on youth apprenticeships and small farms on ag apprentices.
GrowToDonate.org
We completed Year two of Open Source Ag’s grow to donate efforts. The need for fresh, organically grown food is staggering. We’re expanding to the idea if more people grow and donate, that’s the only way to make a dent. GrowToDonate.org (set up this winter) will show when/where/how to drop off produce of any quantity, whether from a farm, garden, or tomato plant on an apartment patio. The growing and giving experience is gratifying and appreciated.
Our outreach approach is a positive experience of community, not a deficit model of what’s wrong and the tragedy of food insecurity. We all love good food and sharing with our communities. And we’re near immune to the pleas of nonprofits leading with suffering. We will host an online grow-to-donate goal site with activities, ideas, and tips toward 50,000 pounds or cubic amounts donated (melons weigh a lot more than peppers).