Shepherd’s Purse

My name is Ali. My favorite flower, Shepherd’s Purse, is a weed. You can find an abundant amount of it in the cracks in the sidewalks along the streets and even next to the highway. It is strong and delicate with roots that can survive and help to heal dying soil. it has small heart-shape seeds that contain properties that …

Digging Deeper into “Cultivating Community:” Our Community Education & Volunteer Program

One goal of our community education and volunteer programs is to create the Inclusion in our vision statement: We envision a thriving and inclusive community, workforce and local food system. A recent study performed by UCSC researchers, Heather E. Bullock, Shirley V. Truong, and Lina Chhun was published in the Journal of Poverty.  You can read Combatting Social Exclusion: “Safe Space” and the Dynamics of …

2015 Annual Report: Donors

A  Huge, Warm Thank You to All of Our Many Generous Donors in 2015. Without You, Our Garden, and Our Trainees Couldn’t Grow! Sustainer of the Garden ($25,000 and over) Quentin Hancock      Newman’s Own Foundation        Michael Zwerling, KSCO Radio Nurturer of the Garden ($10,000-$24,999) Anonymous     Helen and Will Webster Foundation     Monterey …

Everything I Need in a Job

On May 27, 2016, I was released from jail after a month of incarceration. I had only been in the car about two minutes when my case worker informed me that the Homeless Garden Project (HGP) was going to give jobs to the first 20 people that showed up to their main office; my first inclination was “too much, too …

Getting Back to Life

Good Evening everyone.  Thank you all for coming tonight.  My name is Katrina Dubinsky.  Everyone calls me Kat.  I am a very fortunate volunteer at Homeless Garden Project and I’m grateful Darrie asked me to speak tonight.  I am especially pleased to speak on something that involves promise, hope, solutions and humanity. I have much to tell about my experience …