ANV Is Now the Steward of The West Oakland Farm Park, City Slicker Farms

Photos By Aliya Benudiz. All Rights Reserved.

Acta Non Verba and City Slicker Farms are excited to announce a collaborative, organizational merger! This partnership will expand on years of efforts to bring healthy, accessible, and culturally relevant food to urban communities struggling with systematically created food insecurity. Not only that, but it will also provide a fun new location for Camp ANV and other Youth Programming: The West Oakland Farm Park!

The Acta Non Verba Team are now the proud stewards to a new farm site: The West Oakland Farm Park. 

The West Oakland Urban Farm Park (WOFP) is 1.4 acre working urban farm, educational space, and outdoor recreation site located at 2847 Peralta St. in Oakland, CA. It was created and conceived by and for the 3,000 community members in the surrounding neighborhoods, and intended to be a focal point of community pride and activity for residents of West Oakland. It is a safe space for recreation and connects neighbors over the growing, preparing and sharing of food; promotes environmental conservation, serves as an example of how we can reclaim the ecological integrity of the land; and expand access to healthy foods for low income families in Oakland.

The Farm Park includes a number of features to increase environmental sustainability: drip irrigation, rainwater catchment, recycled and reused construction materials, native plants, organic cultivation methods, habitat for pollinators, growing food locally, environmental education programs, recycling and composting receptacles, a fruit orchard, chicken coop, and even a playground, outdoor classroom, lawn, and children’s garden! There is also an outdoor Demonstration Kitchen, where cooking classes, herbal remedy making, and other workshops are held. 

The site is a lush and productive farm with rows and rows of organic vegetable and fruit beds, as well as a dedicated herb garden where culinary and medicinal herbs are grown for utilization in workshops or for the Town Fridge. 

It is also a host site for The Town Fridge Collective, a group that was started to help support food insecure families in Oakland during the pandemic. The collective actions is rooted in the tradition of mutual aid, which emphasizes people helping people without hierarchy or shame. Mutual aid projects have proliferated in the wake of COVID-19 as the need for community members caring for each other has grown.

At the WOFP, thousands of pounds of food are grown each year in order to increase healthy food access to the community. They are able to stock the fridge with fresh produce we’ve grown, as well as contribute space and electricity for the fridge at the Farm Park. As always, first priority goes to unhoused, low- and fixed-income and BIPOC community members, as well as members of our Garden Program. However, any community members may drop off food and any community members may pick up food. Just outside the farm gates, you can find the 24hr Free Fridge, where neighbors can come pick up free produce that is grown on the farm. In 2021 alone, over 4,000 pounds of produce was grown and distributed for free via the Town Fridge program. 

In addition, the WOFP has a section dedicated to the Community Garden,which consists of 28 irrigated plots. This section was designed with West Oakland residents who do not have a space to grow food in mind. Gardeners can take advantage of the all the supplies and support at the Farm Park, including free soil, starts, trainings and workshops. 

Looking for a spot to host your next birthday, team meeting, family reunion, wedding, retreat or other event? The West Oakland Farm Park is a wonderful outdoor space to host a variety or events and meetings while also supporting food justice in Oakland! Learn more about renting the farm park HERE. 

Acta Non Verba is excited to support the ongoing development of this wonderful urban oasis. We are excited to work with the City Slicker Farms team to create an active and exciting farm space where our youth participants can reconnect with their food and the land with excitement, which in turn, will empower them to make healthier and more sustainable choices in their diet and beyond!

Together, we will continue to serve the Oakland community through a lens of public health, knowing that food accessibility is the first building block to healthy and thriving families. By continuing existing programming as well as developing new ones, this collaboration will maintain the common mission of providing a stable stream of accessible food to populations who need it most, as well as ensuring that safe urban green spaces are accessible to all. 

By combining the collective visions of ANV and CSF, we will create more opportunities for youth development, increase access to urban green space, and raise awareness of the powerful role of urban agriculture in our communities. With our collective resources, we will also be able to maintain long term, sustainable stewardship of the land that the West Oakland Farm Park occupies so that it may continue to serve the residents of West Oakland for years to come.

Learn more about the West Oakland Farm Park HERE!

Photos By Aliya Benudiz. All Rights Reserved.

ANV’s Statement Regarding Covid-19 | Respecto a Covid-19

Dear Camp ANV and ANV After School Program (ASP) Families, 

I know you have questions and concerns regarding the Corona Virus (COVID-19) and how it might affect our current operations at Acta Non Verba- with our After School Program (ASP) and our upcoming Camp ANV summer sessions. We are following the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and American Camp Association (ACA) to assure that we are doing everything possible to support the efforts to slow and stop the spread of this illness. 

Please know that we have reviewed and updated our policies and procedures in connection to our healthcare, on-site cleanliness and support of families who have concerns. 

We are committed to our continued care of all of our staff, students and campers and will continue to monitor the situation closely and follow the advice of our local and national agencies in regard to our response. 

As of now, ANV’s After School Program is suspended until OUSD schools reopen. Camp ANV plans to open as usual on June 8th 2020.

In the meantime, our staff is happy to offer online and by phone homework help, read-aloud storytime and email educational activities and websites to families weekly. That information will be texted directly to Camp  and ASP families.

Oakland Unified School District has set up a number of grab-and-go breakfast and lunch sites. You can find more information and locations HERE

More information on the Coronavirus is available at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus. If you have additional questions about the situation please contact our office at 510.838.2267. 

This global situation is changing daily, so please know we will continue to update our community as information becomes available from the CDC and state agencies. 

Please do not hesitate to reach out to me or any of our staff if we can be of assistance in any reasonable way.

Warmest regards to everyone in our communities; we’ll see you all soon.

Kelly D. Carlisle

Founder/Executive Director

Acta Non Verba: Youth Urban Farm Project

 

Respecto a Covid-19

Estimadas familias del Campamento ANV y ANV Programa de Despues de Escuela (PDE),

Sé que tiene preguntas e inquietudes con respecto al Virus Corona (COVID-19) y cómo podría afectar nuestras operaciones actuales en Acta Non Verba- con nuestro Programa Después de la Escuela (PDE) y nuestras próximas sesiones de verano del Campamento ANV. Estamos siguiendo la guía de los Centros para el Control de Enfermedades (CDC) y la American Camp Association (ACA) para asegurar que estamos haciendo todo lo posible para apoyar los esfuerzos para frenar y detener la propagación de esta enfermedad.

Tenga en cuenta que hemos revisado y actualizado nuestras políticas y procedimientos en relación con nuestra atención médica, la limpieza de las oficinas/salones y el apoyo a las familias que tienen inquietudes.

Estamos comprometidos con nuestra atención continua de todo nuestro personal, estudiantes y campistas y continuaremos monitoreando la situación de cerca y siguiendo los consejos de nuestras agencias locales y nacionales con respecto a nuestra respuesta.

A partir de ahora, el programa de Despues de Escuela de ANV está suspendido hasta que las escuelas de OUSD vuelvan a abrir. Camp ANV planea abrir como de costumbre el 8 de junio de 2020.

Mientras tanto, nuestro personal se complace en ofrecer ayuda en línea y por teléfono para la tarea, lectura de cuentos en voz alta y actividades educativas por correo electrónico y sitios web a las familias semanalmente. Esa información se enviará por mensaje de texto directamente a las familias del campamento y ASP.

El Distrito Escolar Unificado de Oakland ha establecido una serie de sitios para desayunar y almorzar para llevar. Puede encontrar más información y ubicaciones AQUÍ.

Más información sobre el Coronavirus está disponible en https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus. Si tiene preguntas adicionales sobre la situación, comuníquese con nuestra oficina al 510.838.2267.

Esta situación global está cambiando diariamente, así que sepa que continuaremos actualizando nuestra comunidad a medida que los CDC y las agencias estatales dispongan de información.

No dude en comunicarse conmigo o con cualquiera de nuestro personal si podemos ayudarlo de manera razonable.

Un cordial saludo a todos en nuestras comunidades; los veremos a todos pronto!

Kelly D. Carlisle

Founder/Executive Director

Acta Non Verba: Youth Urban Farm Project

1001 83rd Ave. Mailbox #1 Oakland, CA 94621

510-838-CAMP (2267) | 510-972-FARM (3276)

Website: www.anvfarm.org

Email: info@anvfarm.org

Our First Delivery to Mandela Foods Cooperative!

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Photos Courtesy of Acta Non Verba: Youth Urban Farm Project | All Right Reserved

Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Our After-School Program (ASP) made their first store delivery to Mandela Foods Cooperative Grocery Store, last week! Youth members participating in ASP pick fresh pineapple-guavas from our WOW Farm site. We walked them across the street and down the road from the farm, to our neighbors at Mandela Foods. There, we were warmly greeted by the coop workers’ and customers. What a great way to kick off this partnership!

Stop by Mandela Foods (1430 7th St, Oakland, CA 94607), get you some hand-picked pineapple guavas, and support your local coop today! ?????‍???‍?

WOW Farm is Now a Project of Acta Non Verba!

Photos By Aaron De La Cerda and Kahlil Johnson All Rights Reserved.

What is Wow Farm?

Wow Farm has operated in West Oakland for nearly 20 years and is now a project of Acta Non Verba: Youth Urban Farm Project!

At Wow Farm we employ organic and natural farming methods to grow more than 20 varieties of microgreens, 7 herb varieties and 10 types of fruit.

We grow quality produce year-around and utilize raised mounds, drip irrigation, integrated pest management, and regularly amend our soil with organic compost, a portion of which is produced on site.  We sell & deliver our produce directly to local restaurants and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) customers around in and around Oakland.

In addition to our After School Program, Camp ANV’s Leaders In Training (LIT’s) now have another space to learn sustainable agriculture and and microenterprise!

Learn more about our CSA HERE!

Photos By Aaron De La Cerda and Kahlil Johnson All Rights Reserved.

Acta Non Verba Partners with the Oakland Athletics for “The Farm”!

Acta Non Verba: Youth Urban Farm Project (ANV) and the Oakland A’s announced yesterday the creation of The Farm, an originative garden designed by ANV’s Farm Manager, Aaron De La Cerda & ANV Consultant, Gino Orlando. Additionally, the A’s have partnered with Acta Non Verba to lead food justice and leadership programming on the Farm.

Located  on the south end of the Eastside Club near the right field flagpoles, The Farm is set to debut during the 2018 baseball season. The Farm consists of thirty-six redwood planters that will grow an assortment of seasonal produce and flowers alongside tables and benches for fans to enjoy during the game.

The area will be able to accommodate approximately 100 fans at a time.  The intimate and private space will be available for groups to reserve for pregame events such as ANV’s Annual Fundraiser scheduled for May 19th at the Coliseum’s Eastside Club.

Check out ANV’s Press Release HERE

You can read the A’s Press Release HERE

After School Program ’17-’18

ANV’s After School Program is small, but MIGHTY! With field trips to the Sunol Ag Park, Lake Chabot and Cooking Classes taught by Cooking Matters!

Mr. Kahlil, our program director, Ms. Ashwana, our program coordinator and Mr. Aaron, our farm manager help with homework, tutor our students, work with them on our farm and create really awesome special projects! 

Please do not use these photos without the express permission of Acta Non Verba: Youth Urban Farm Project.