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Educational Farm Visits at Acta Non Verba
Acta Non Verba: Youth Urban Farm Project (ANV) offers immersive, hands-on outdoor education programs for a wide range of age groups — from pre-K to 12th grade, as well as college students engaged in observational learning and adult learners.
Each visit includes:
- A Guided Tour of the ANV urban farm, highlighting sustainable agriculture practices and seasonal crops.
- An Age-Appropriate Work Project, where participants engage in real farm tasks that build knowledge, responsibility, and connection to the land.
Our Farm Manager customizes every visit to align with the group’s goals, interests, and schedule — whether you’re seeking a science-focused experience, a team-building activity, or an introduction to healthy food systems.
Pricing & Payment Information
ANV charges a base rate of $150 per hour for educational farm visits.
However, pricing may vary based on several factors:
- Duration of the visit
- Number of participants
- Type of planned activity
We offer a sliding scale to make our programs accessible to a wider range of groups. Please note:
- Groups of 25 or more participants may be subject to an additional fee.
- Our Farm Team will follow up to confirm the final cost and discuss any applicable adjustments.
Payment Details
- Payment must be received in advance.
- Make checks payable to: Acta Non Verba: Youth Urban Farm Project
- Mail to: 248 3rd Street, #1056 Oakland, CA 94607
Cancellation & Refund Policy
- 100% refund if ANV cancels the trip, or if cancellation is due to extreme weather or emergency school closure.
- 50% refund if the trip is canceled by the school or group.
Please contact ANV’s Farms Team at farms@anvfarm.org or 510-878-7235 with any questions.
Possible Focus Topics for Farm Visits
Each ANV farm visit can be customized to align with your group’s educational goals and interests. Below are some of the engaging, hands-on topics we offer. These themes can be adapted for different age groups and learning levels:
Exploring Soil & Compost
Discover the life beneath our feet and how composting turns waste into rich soil.
Planting & Transplanting
Learn the basics of starting seeds, caring for seedlings, and planting for a healthy harvest.
Bees, Bugs & Worms
Get up close with beneficial insects and understand their role in pollination and soil health.
Where Our Food Comes From
Trace the journey from farm to table, and learn about local food systems.
Understanding Food Deserts
Explore how geography and economics impact food access in our communities.
Investigating Ecosystems
Observe interconnections between plants, animals, and people in a thriving farm environment.
Caring for Our Environment
Discuss sustainability and how small actions can lead to big environmental change.
Learning to Love Vegetables
Taste, harvest, and explore produce through all five senses.
How to Become an Urban Farmer
Discover what it takes to grow food in city spaces and become a change-maker in your community.
Mapping a Seasonal Garden
Plan a garden using seasonal crops, weather cycles, and planting calendars.
Chaperones
For Pre-K through 5th grade, there should be a minimum of one, and no more than two adults for every five students.
For 6th through 12th grade, there should be a minimum of one, and no more than two adults for every ten students.
Chaperones include teachers, administrators, parents, and teacher aides.
What To Wear and Bring
Visitors are encouraged to bring reusable water bottles, sunscreen, and bug spray with them. All visitors must sign a waiver before their visit. Minors require a parent/guardian’s signature.
How to Prepare Your Students
We’d appreciate your help preparing your students for the trip by sharing our farm’s rules with them before they arrive:
- Keep your feet on the paths to avoid trampling any plants growing in the raised garden beds.
- Ask permission before picking and eating any produce or using any tools.
- Leave sticks, woodchips, and rocks on the ground.
- Try out a new food and be polite if it’s not your favorite. No saying “gross,” “yuck,” or “nasty” – you might influence someone else to not like it.
- Stay calm around insects.
- Practice active listening, be curious, and ask questions!
How to Prepare Your Chaperones
We love working with enthusiastic chaperones who help their youth enjoy the farm! We like to remind our adult guests of a few guidelines before the trip:
- Help the youth stay safe on the farm by monitoring their movements – reminding them to stay on the paths, not throw sticks or rocks, and to be cautious when using tools.
- Please help maximize student learning by letting the youth answer the questions and allowing them to experience the activities first.
- Demonstrate enthusiasm for trying new experiences and tastes by either working alongside the youth or keeping quiet about your own likes and dislikes.
- Help us practice environmental responsibility by reminding youth to only use one drinking cup while visiting and to pick up any litter they generate.
Getting To The Farm
East Oakland – Tassafaronga We are located on the corner of 83rd Avenue and E Street in East Oakland behind Tassafaronga Recreation Center (975 85th Avenue). If you are using a GPS to find us, please type in 1001 83rd Ave. Oakland, CA 94621.
Visitors, please park along E Street and NOT on 83rd Avenue. You will be ticketed and possibly towed. If you are taking AC Transit, take the # 98 – towards San Leandro St. It will drop you off on the corner of 85th and E Street and you can find us from there.
West Oakland – West Oakland Farm Park. We are located at 2847 Peralta St, Oakland, CA 94608.
Rain or Shine Policy
Here at Acta Non Verba, we like to get our hands in the dirt come rain or shine, and we’re ready for field trips in almost any weather. We expect groups to arrive prepared for the weather.
Follow-Up
After your visit, group leaders will be asked to complete a short online survey to provide feedback to Acta Non Verba staff.
