00 compiled lmv project materials
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The Problem In San José, fresh, organic food is too expensive. Extremely high housing costs mean that families often have to choose between paying rent and buying healthy food. Families who join La Mesa Verde want to eat healthy, organic food. We know what is healthy and what is good for our families, but are unable to access this kind of food. Mission La Mesa Verde members who know and trust each other, who have gained a deeper understanding of injustice within our food system, can build real power to produce our own food and to change the food system. La Mesa Verde is a leadership network of urban gardeners who build access to healthy food in San José. We recognize that industrial food production and sale is designed for profit and often sacrifices our health, especially of low-income communities, and our ability to access good food. La Mesa Verde gardeners challenge injustice in the food system by producing our own food in a supportive and self-reliant community, and by organizing for real changes that improve access to food in San José. What we do Families join La Mesa Verde through our year-long introductory garden course. La Mesa Verde provides the necessary supplies for an organic backyard garden to 50 new low income families a year, including two 4’x8’ garden beds, organic soil and compost, drip irrigation, and organic seeds and seedlings. Families participate in monthly garden workshops taught by Master Gardeners and LMV members, which include both sustainable garden practices and political education on our food system. By participating in La Mesa Verde, families develop gardening and cooking practices that increase our health and well-being, and join together in a supportive, organized community. Eight mutual support committees form the La Mesa Verde community. Working together in these committees, LMV Members and First Years: ● recruit and mentor new families ● lead garden bed builds ● design and teach cooking classes ● organize events ● care for the demonstration garden ● plan and run advanced gardening workshops for members ● lead policy campaigns. The focus on cooperative planning and action within these committees develops relationships of trust and common identity. LMV members identify potential policy solutions and concrete improvements in our community that will improve access to healthy food. When necessary, we work to unite the LMV membership and the wider community behind a policy campaign to win real change in the food system.
Transcript of 00 compiled lmv project materials
The ProblemIn San José, fresh, organic food is too expensive. Extremely high housing costs mean that families often have to choose between paying rent and buying healthy food. Families who join La Mesa Verde want to eat healthy, organic food. We know what is healthy and what is good for our families, but are unable to access this kind of food.
Mission
La Mesa Verde members who know and trust each other, who have gained a deeper understanding of injustice within our food system, can build real power to produce our own food and to change the food system.
La Mesa Verde is a leadership network of urban gardeners who build access to healthy food in San José. We recognize that industrial food production and sale is designed for profit and often sacrifices our health, especially of low-income communities, and our ability to access good food. La Mesa Verde gardeners challenge injustice in the food system by producing our own food in a supportive and self-reliant community, and by organizing for real changes that improve access to food in San José.
What we doFamilies join La Mesa Verde through our year-long introductory garden course. La Mesa Verde provides the necessary supplies for an organic backyard garden to 50 new low income families a year, including two 4’x8’ garden beds, organic soil and compost, drip irrigation, and organic seeds and seedlings. Families participate in monthly garden workshops taught by Master Gardeners and LMV members, which include both sustainable garden practices and political education on our food system. By participating in La Mesa Verde, families develop gardening and cooking practices that increase our health and well-being, and join together in a supportive, organized community.
Eight mutual support committees form the La Mesa Verde community. Working together in these committees, LMV Members and First Years:● recruit and mentor new families● lead garden bed builds● design and teach cooking classes● organize events● care for the demonstration garden● plan and run advanced gardening workshops for members● lead policy campaigns.
The focus on cooperative planning and action within these committees develops relationships of trust and common identity. LMV members identify potential policy solutions and concrete improvements in our community that will improve access to healthy food. When necessary, we work to unite the LMV membership and the wider community behind a policy campaign to win real change in the food system.
History
Since its founding in 2008, La Mesa Verde has grown,
evolved, and been involved in a number of community
efforts and partnerships. Scroll over the timeline below to
hear about each milestone.
Read more about our victories!
Founded2008
News Coverage2008
Guilds2012
News Feature
2012
Plans for New MembershipModel 2014
First Year of Membership
2015
Victory!2016
500 Families with Gardens
2016Evan’s Lane
Garden2017
First GraduatingClass 2008/9
SCU Partnership
2010
UAIZ Advocacy
2015
Seeds of Change
2016
Founded (2008)
La Mesa Verde was founded by Raul Lozano at Sacred Heart Community Service as part of the Self Sufficiency Department. A partnership is formed between La Mesa Verde and Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County.
2008: La Mesa Verde is founded by Raul Lozano at Sacred Heart Community Service as part of the Self Sufficiency Department. A partnership is formed between La Mesa Verde and Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County. 2008/09: The first class of 100 families graduates from the La Mesa Verde year-long introductory gardening course. 2010: The New York Times and the San José Mercury News cover La Mesa Verde's work [LINK]. 2010: La Mesa Verde begins an on going partnership with Santa Clara University to research the production value and impact of home gardens. 2012: La Mesa Verde graduates organize neighborhood Guilds to facilitate advanced gardening education. 2012: La Mesa Verde is featured in the San José Mercury News wishbook [LINK]. 2014: La Mesa Verde explores options for a new membership model based on increased interest in community connection expressed in one-on-one interviews, focus groups, and surveys. 2015: Official La Mesa Verde membership begins, with 70 active members and 45 new families as a part of our network. La Mesa Verde forms eight mutual support committees comprised primarily of Members and First Years who recruit new families, build garden beds, provide personal mentorship, design and teach cooking activities, organize network-wide events, care for the demonstration garden, plan and run advanced gardening workshops, and lead policy campaigns. 2015: A small group of La Mesa Verde members begins to advocate for Urban Agriculture Incentive Zones in San José to facilitate creation of community gardens. 2016: Victory! La Mesa Verde members rally community partners and allies to win Urban Agriculture Incentive Zones (UAIZs) in the City of San José. Over 60 community members, including over 30 LMV members, testify in support of UAIZs at City Council meetings [LINK]. (add something about fee) http://www.sanjoseinside.com/2016/12/15/san-jose-council-drops-steep-fee-to-encourage-urban-agriculture/ 2016: La Mesa Verde celebrates building gardens for over 500 families in San José. 2016: La Mesa Verde wins the national Seeds of Change competition [LINK]. 2017: La Mesa Verde is slated to open its first community garden at the Evans Lane transitional housing project.
Leader Profiles
Alanna Gifford GonzalezGetting involved in the food system
Rodrigo OrozcoPara ser jardinero
Arcelia RamirezLos niños y las plantas en crecimiento
Martha BarahonaEn qué significa el jardín
Together, members of La Mesa Verde lobbied the San José City Council. We held rallies, met individually with council members, and testified in Council sessions.
In San José, climbing rent makes it difficult for families to afford clean, healthy food and to access open spaces for gardening. Community gardens can enable families, including families on the move and families with limited access to land, to grow their own affordable, healthy food.
Victory for Urban Gardening
The Urban Agriculture Incentive Zone Ordinance establishes a new tax incentive for creating urban agriculture on undeveloped or vacant properties. La Mesa Verde and partner organizations in the community worked together to make this legislation a reality, envisioning UAIZ as a pathway to healthy and affordable food. Scroll down to explore the story as told by four LMV community leaders.
El jardín es la oportunidad que nos da para salir adelante, para tener esperanza en la vida. - Martha, LMV Member since 2009
“”
The UAIZ Ordinance will mean vitality and health for San José. Community gardens create access to healthy and affordable food, build trust among neighbors, engage the neighborhood, increase neighborhood safety, and provide opportunities for education. For Clarissa and other cancer survivors, organic gardening is growing the medicine your body needs. Listen to La Mesa Verde members share their visions for the future.
Our campaign succeeded in winning UAIZs for San José and Santa Clara County! With a unanimous
vote, the council passed the UAIZ ordinance to allow incentives for community gardens.
Click here to read our letter to landowners.
Hear Eileen speak about the Council’s decision
Listen as Sandi and Eileen speak about the housing crisis
Alanna, Sandi, and Clarissa on building a
strong, diverse community
Behind the Scenes
Gardeners in Action
The Rally at City Hall, where La Mesa Verde gardeners delivered vegetables and thyme to the Mayor
La Mesa Verde’s own urban garden, at Sacred Heart Community Service
La Mesa Verde celebrates victory for urban gardens!
The UAIZ campaign involved ~30 members of La Mesa Verde, and much planning and community organizing. Listen to Clarissa speak about communicating with legislators:
At right: LMV members hold an organizing meeting in preparation for their next visit to City Council, Below: La Mesa Verde members speak with the press about the urgent need for urban agriculture.
The LMV members who advocated for UAIZs are members of La Mesa Verde who grow food for themselves and their community. They have witnessed firsthand the transformative effect that urban gardening has had on their lives and their neighborhood communities.
Clarissa, on building neighborhood
community
Sandi speaks about the joy of gardening
Clarissa, on growing food as medicine for
chronic illness
After nearly 2 years of work by La Mesa Verde in advocating for UAIZs, the City Council unanimously approved the incentive.
Sandi and Clarissa express their vision and hopes for community
gardens in San José
In San José, climbing rent makes it difficult for families to afford clean, healthy food and to access open spaces for gardening. Community gardens can enable families, including families on the move and families with limited access to land, to grow their own affordable, healthy food.
Together, members of La Mesa Verde lobbied the San José City Council. We held rallies, met individually with council members, and testified in Council sessions.
Victory for Urban Gardening
The Urban Agriculture Incentive Zone Ordinance establishes a new tax incentive for creating urban agriculture on undeveloped or vacant properties. La Mesa Verde and partner organizations in the community worked together to make this legislation a reality, envisioning UAIZ as a pathway to healthy and affordable food. Scroll down to explore the story as told by four LMV community leaders.
El jardín es la oportunidad que nos da para salir adelante, para tener esperanza en la vida. - Martha, LMV Member since 2009
“”
The UAIZ Ordinance will mean vitality and health for San José. Community gardens create access to healthy and affordable food, build trust among neighbors, engage the neighborhood, increase neighborhood safety, and provide opportunities for education. For Clarissa and other cancer survivors, organic gardening is growing the medicine your body needs. Listen to La Mesa Verde members share their visions for the future.
Our campaign succeeded in obtaining UAIZs for San José and Santa Clara County! With a unanimous
vote, the council passed the UAIZ ordinance to allow incentives for community gardens.
Click here to read our letter to landowners.
Hear Eileen speak about the Council’s decision
Listen as Sandi and Eileen speak about the housing crisis
Alanna, Sandi, and Clarissa on building a
strong, diverse community
Behind the Scenes
Gardeners in Action
The Rally at City Hall, where La Mesa Verde gardeners delivered vegetables and thyme to the Mayor
La Mesa Verde’s own urban garden, at Sacred Heart Community Service
La Mesa Verde celebrates victory for urban gardens!
The UAIZ campaign involved ~30 members of La Mesa Verde, and much planning and community organizing. Listen to Clarissa speak about communicating with legislators:
At right: LMV members hold an organizing meeting in preparation for their next visit to City Council, Below: La Mesa Verde members speak with the press about the urgent need for urban agriculture.
The LMV members who advocated for UAIZs are members of La Mesa Verde who grow food for themselves and their community. They have witnessed firsthand the transformative effect that urban gardening has had on their lives and their neighborhood communities.
Clarissa, on building neighborhood
community
Sandi speaks about the joy of gardening
Clarissa, on growing food as medicine for
chronic illness
After nearly 2 years of work by La Mesa Verde in advocating for UAIZs, the City Council unanimously approved the incentive.
Sandi and Clarissa express their vision and hopes for community
gardens in San José
Transcript:(Sandi) My name is Sandi Taylor, and I’m about to become a third-year member of La Mesa Verde. Well, I saw this flyer Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, iudico facilisis mea te. Duo id facilis detraxit praesent, vim soleat nostro persequeris ne. Cum ei magna volutpat. Pri dolores menandri mediocrem te, est et lucilius aliquando.
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Traducción:(Sandi) Me llamo Sandi Taylor, y estoy a punto de convertirse en Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, iudico facilisis mea te. Duo id facilis detraxit praesent, vim soleat nostro persequeris ne. Cum ei magna volutpat. Pri dolores menandri mediocrem te, est et lucilius aliquando.
Consequat temporibus mea ne, populo pertinax postulant vis an. At graeci intellegam mei. Sea ei feugiat debitis, id laudem legendos reformidans vis. Erant aliquando per te, amet accumsan aliquando eum in, eos veritus incorrupte repudiandae ei.
Usu no impetus signiferumque, id cum aeterno adolescens. Vel eu sumo ornatus, ex movet denique referrentur vel. Quot alienum pericula eu mea, sit timeam reprimique no. Ei pri paulo facete concludaturque, stet patrioque adolescens cum at. In usu soluta officiis referrentur, has elitr putent diceret ea. In sea agam summo. Ea his vitae eleifend.
111 Sample Street
San José, CA 11111
Jan 1, 1111
Dear Ms. Landowner,
We are writing to inform you about recently passed legislation that allows Urban Agriculture Incentive
Zones in Santa Clara County, which could result in significant tax savings for the property you own. As a
landowner of an undeveloped or vacant property, you have the opportunity to benefit from this legislation,
which rewards creating urban agriculture on your land by assessing the property at the agricultural level,
leading to a substantial tax reduction benefit. Several partner organizations in the San José community are
ready to develop projects, such as community gardens and urban greenhouses, and only require a willing
partner landowner.
If you choose to allow the use of your land for urban agriculture, your land will be assessed at the
agricultural value rather than the development value. Agricultural property is currently valued at $12,900
per acre, which at a tax rate of 1% corresponds to a property tax of $129 per acre. In San José, a half-acre
plot originally valued at $600,000 would save $5,563 the first tax year and $5,871 in subsequent years.
Urban agriculture provides many benefits to both you and your community, which include:
● Increasing the overall health and wellness of your area by providing an engaging physical
activity and a variety of fresh, healthy, accessible food.
● Increasing the safety of the neighborhood.
● Building trust between neighbors.
● Improving the soil and air quality of your lot. ● Strengthening neighborhood identity. ● Beautifying your area.
● Providing youth in the area with positive experiences of growing their own food.
To be eligible for the incentive:
● The entire lot must be used for urban agriculture.
● Eligible urban agriculture uses include farming, orchards, beekeeping, and permaculture
activities, as well as gardens of various kinds, such as therapeutic gardens, community gardens, or
family gardens.
● The lot must be between 0.1 acre and 1 acre if located within the City of San José, and between
0.1 acre and 3 acres if located in an unincorporated area of Santa Clara County.
● There can be no structures or buildings on the parcel, except those that support the urban
agriculture activities (i.e. a greenhouse, tool shed, etc.).
● The owner must be willing to sign a minimum five-year contract with the County. Contracts may
be broken at any time, but all tax savings must then be paid back to the County.
The next property owner to apply for a UAIZ Contract will have a fixed application fee of $308. After
this point, there will be an application fee of $308, with additional fees to be determined by the city and
county offices. This is still significantly less than the property tax that you could save by taking
advantage of this incentive.
Several partner organizations are available to support planning, implementation, and/or maintenance of
your garden. To connect with one of these organizations, contact:
● La Mesa Verde, a network of urban gardeners in San José, at (408) 916-5069, or email Jamie at
If you are interested in applying for the Urban Agriculture Incentive,
● Fill out an application (http://www.sanjoseca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/63228). You must
submit your application by August 1 (need to doublecheck)
● Contact Supervisor Yeager’s office at (408) 299-5040.
● To discuss property valuation under the Urban Agriculture Incentive Zone Ordinance, call (408)
299-5300 or email [email protected]
● See the City of San José webpage for more information:
http://www.sanjoseca.gov/index.aspx?NID=5320
Urban Agriculture Incentive Zones provide a significant opportunity for you to reduce your tax obligation
and better your community. We hope that you will take advantage of these opportunities and benefits.
Sincerely,
City of San José
We recognize that industrial food production and sale is designed for profit and often sacrifices health. La Mesa Verde gardeners challenge injustice in the food system by producing our own food in a supportive and self-reliant community, and by organizing for real changes that improve access to food in San Jose.
Our story
La Mesa Verde
La Mesa Verde was founded in 2008 at Sacred Heart Community Service. We are a dynamic group of urban gardeners who grow our own food and our community’s leadership in food justice and food access. Over 600 San Jose families have participated in La Mesa Verde.
A network of urban gardeners
Our city
Our familiesLa Mesa Verde provides the necessary supplies for an organic backyard garden to 50 new low income families a year. Families join La Mesa Verde through our year-long introductory garden course. Families also participate in monthly garden workshops taught by Master Gardeners and LMV members.
Together, La Mesa Verde gardeners:
In San Jose, fresh, organic food is too expensive. Extremely high housing costs mean that families often have to choose between paying rent and buying healthy food. La Mesa Verde members grow food for their families in their own yards, and at schools, art galleries, and churches throughout the City of San Jose.
● Care for the demonstration garden● Plan and run advanced gardening workshops ● Lead policy campaigns
● Recruit and mentor new families● Build gardens● Design and teach cooking classes
In 2016, La Mesa Verde gardeners lobbied San Jose City Council to pass the Urban Agriculture Incentive Zone (UAIZ) Ordinance. The UAIZ Ordinance reduces taxes for landowners who allow urban agriculture on their property. In November, the City Council passed the UAIZ Ordinance - victory for urban gardening!
There are many ways to get involved with La Mesa Verde:
● Garden with us! Take our year-long introductory course on organic gardening.● Learn with us! Become a Member, take advanced classes, and build our
community.● Organize with us! Partner with us to create concrete change in the San Jose
food system.● Volunteer with us! Work together with us in our mission to make healthy food
affordable and accessible.● Donate! Help us continue our work!
Contact us at (408) 916.5069 or [email protected]
Our activism
Our experiencesFor some members, gardening has always been an important part of their lives, while others discover a passion for gardening through the LMV community. Through gardening experiences and the development of strong relationships, members often become community leaders. Some of our leaders have shared what gardening means to them!
Nosotros somos como las plantas: si no nos cuidamos, o no tenemos amistades, estamos tristes, nos da estrés.
-Rodrigo Orozco
Es muy importante para mí que mis hijos aprendan acerca de lo que comemos.
- Arcelia Ramirez
It’s pure joy! didn’t realize how passionate I was about this until my garden began to grow!
-Sandi Taylor
