Lienallie gave this talk at Permaculture Action Day at our farm on November 4, 2017. Over the course of the day, about 200 people gathered to take part in a day of hands-on regenerative projects, music, shared food, workshops, and taking action as a community. Lienallie spoke about her experience in Homeless Garden Project’s transitional employment program. Here are her remarks. Hello, …
Hello and welcome to our farm and garden. My name is April Wilson and I am blessed and honored to be here. I am a trainee here at Homeless Garden Project. I’ll begin with a testimony about myself and what gravitated me to this ever-giving garden. I’m a local—born and raised here. I’m 35 years old and single. I was …
Four days ago, Darrie pulled me aside at work and gave me what felt like an impossibly hard task. I was to write my story of how I got here and how the program has benefited me, and share it with you tonight. I didn’t know where to begin. I didn’t know what to say. My story is one of …
My name is Laurie Soderman and I became a trainee earlier this year in May. When I was asked to speak tonight, describing my experience, a quote from a song by the band Genesis came to mind. They sang: The sands of time were eroded by the river of constant change. This is a glimpse of my story of Transformation, …
Hello everyone, I’d like to thank everybody for coming out to visit our farm. “Our farm.” It’s funny when I say “our farm.” I think of all the numerous people that have come here whether it to be a volunteer, donate, find some peace and quiet, or like many of us in the trainee program, to help put our lives …
Andrew presented this talk to 75 guests at our SUSTAIN Farm Dinner. My name is Andrew. I came to Santa Cruz when I was 13, and 14 was my first trip to Juvenile Hall. By 15, I was in rehab and by 16, I was in a group home until I was 18. I had a family that loved me and …
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 …
When Lauri Girard first came to the Homeless Garden Project five months ago, she had already made tremendous strides in her recovery. To fully appreciate the impact the Project has had on her, one needs to know where she has been, what brought her here and what is in store for her next. “It’s a miracle I’m alive, and so …
