Vallejo People's Garden 

Our Fall Harvest on October 25th was not only a time to celebrate with friends, family, and community on the bounty the VPG has worked to achieve, it was also a fundraiser to raise funds for our outdoor classroom. At our Fall Harvest was Irma Widjojo, writer of our local newspaper, Vallejo Times-Herald. She asked VPG's Garden Coordinator, Vilma Aquino, how much the VPG would need to build the outdoor classroom. Without really knowing the exact amount, Vilma replied $3,000. We didn't raise that amount at the Fall Harvest but at the end of the day, when Vilma was checking her emails, she opened up an email from an organization she and VPG volunteer, Darren Goon, had written a grant to. It read: 'Dear Ms. Aquino, I am pleased to inform you that the Garden of Success Outdoor Classroom was selected to receive a $3,000 grant from Strong Foundation...' Can you believe it!!! Thank you Strong Foundation !!!

EXTRA EXTRA. Read all about it. Our Fall Harvest Celebration made front page news on our local Vallejo Times-Herald. http://www.timesheraldonline.com/ci_19195670 Homepage of Vallejo Times-Herald Garden Event Raises Money on Vallejo Times-Herald Article on Vallejo Times-Herald

Come join us at our Fall Celebration Tuesday, October 25, 2011 from 4-7pm Vallejo People's Garden 1055 Azuar Avenue, Mare Island , CA 94592 * Halloween Costume Contest (adults included!)--prize for best costume *Children's garden and art activities *Mexican food and bake sale--a fundraiser for the future workshop gazebo *Autumn workshop on plant dyes using local plants from the Vallejo neighborhood, taught by Katharine Jolda of Felt the Sun For directions, click here: http://youtu.be/gALiu_6lAgo

Tom's pumpkin. Do not harvest! Welcome Andrew! Thanks for volunteering with us today!

One of the youngest member of the Vallejo People's Garden is Kinsey. She's at the garden periodically moving small rocks, carrying 4" pots, playing in the sand, or harvesting veggies. Amanda who is one of the founding members of the Vallejo People's Garden, and who also works for the USDA Forest Service, shows us a cucumber from the first cucumber seedling planted in our community garden. The harvest of sugar snap peas, zucchini, squash, and cucumbers amounted to 20 pounds of vegetables that were harvested today--all donated to the Christian Help Center .

The Vallejo People's Garden is starting a new program called the Harvest Sharing Program. Your participation and generosity in donating your excess fresh produce will help to reduce food waste in Vallejo and will provide nutrition for your neighbors who need it. Here's what it's all about: What: People in the community donating their excess produce of fruits and vegetables from their garden to benefit the homeless, low income people, senior citizens, and working poor. When: Drop off Monday through Saturday, 9am-5pm. Where: Vallejo People’s Garden , 1055 Azuar Drive, Mare Island, CA 94592 Why: To share what you have with people who are most in need and to reduce food waste. For more information, call or e-mail Vallejo People’s Garden at (707) 733-3874 or info@vallejopeoplesgarden.org Vegetables and fruits collected will be bagged for distribution among different shelters and community organizations serving the elderly, the poor and the home...

Here's a big THANK YOU to Charlie Hildebrand and Steven Lu for helping us set up our website! At left is Charlie and Steven with the nine lbs of organic produce donated to the Christian Help Center.