What Our Trainees Say Was Accomplished in 2012

Probably the most inspiring and meaningful achievements at Homeless Garden Project are from our trainees. Here is a listing from our trainees about what they personally accomplished by participating in HGP’s transitional employment program in 2012. I’m now living indoors. I’m renting a room in a house, as of January 2013. I started a second job at a nonprofit in …

Nourishing Soil: Joan’s story

Here is the story that Joan shared with Michael Pollan after he toured the farm. She was very brave to write it and speak it, and that courage was palpable when she shared. Later, Raphael, an accomplished  SJSU film student, made a video chronicling the transition of trainees from farm to workshop with Joan’s story narrating. Watch the Video: Nourishing Soil “The …

I Was a Survivor and Now I’m living

I have been a trainee at the Homeless Garden Project’s Natural Bridges Farm for nearlya year, and what a wondrous year it has been. The wisdom, knowledge, compassion and support, the camaraderie and bonding, as well as understanding and patience that have been showered upon me is without measure, appreciated, and surprisingly now welcomed. It was not always so. For …

Tribute to Susie MacMillen

In celebration of Susie’s life. Please join us at Natural Bridges Farm on Friday, June 24 at 2 PM to pay tribute to Susie MacMillen.  There will be opportunities to share remembrances, a small reception will follow. Please feel free to bring food to share, writing, photos. If you need more information, please contact Forrest Cook at forrestc@homelessgardenproject.org Susie began …

The Mutuality of Nourishment

As 2009 opened, I was issued a challenge – extended by my youngest sister to each of her six siblings – to make at least 500 pb&j sandwiches for the local soup kitchen or outreach center of my choosing. After strong-arming my Solstice partygoers into a couple of hours of focused sandwich making, my wife Christine and I had a …

I’m Part of A Solution

Roughly seventeen years ago I first began my training experience making wreaths and working at the WOFE gardens on Washington Street and up at Natural Bridges Farm.  Then in the year 2000, I worked at the farm primarily digging and planting beds and harvesting for that year.  I also had the creative outlet making bouquets for CSA.  Now I work …