Hello everyone and thank you for coming out to the opening of the new location of the Homeless Garden Project Store! My name is David Perez and I am a paid trainee with the Homeless Garden Project’s Job Training Program. A few years ago, my life was a blur of addiction, depression, and a constant feeling of disconnect and isolation. I felt detached from the world around me and from the very basics of living. I realized I needed a change– a chance to slow down and find a genuine purpose. That brought me here to this community at the Homeless Garden Project.
The soil on the farm creates an environmentally sound place for crops to grow and flourish. On the farm, crops get the nutrients, water, and sunlight they need to survive. In a similar way, the farm has given myself and other trainees a chance for growth, renewal, and success. In the Job Training program, I have learned so much beyond the typical farmwork tasks. I have learned professional accountability, collaboration, patience, determination, and so much more. The Homeless Garden Project gave me the chance to turn my life around. Leaving my old life was a scary leap. The decision to trade my old ways with something more meaningful felt daunting, but the Homeless Garden Project has given me all the tools I need to succeed in the world. During my time at the Farm, I was voted Employee of the Month by my peers. Also, I gained the privilege to work up at the Farmstand where I got to know customers and volunteers who visited the Farm. During this role, I helped assist with sales and our CSA and Feed Two Birds programs. By getting to know myself and how well I work with the public it encourages me to pursue a future career in real estate or sales.
The journey hasn’t been without its challenges, as farming tests your body and your mind, but everyday I am rewarded in a way my old life never could have been capable of. Here, the work is tangible. I get to see the literal fruits of my labor, but the magic isn’t just the fresh produce. It’s in building community and through small interactions with people in my role at the farm stand, like recommending the perfect tomato for a recipe, or helping someone pick out a gift for a friend. Our Farm Team keeps the farm thriving, which allows the farmstand to flourish. It truly is a hub for people to connect, share stories, and invest in the future for green spaces. I now share a special bond with our products and our new store, as well. I have learned how to create many of these products and assisted Omar and the store Team to set up this new space of the store. I encourage all of you to shop today and visit our farm because you will discover it is so much more than just fruits and vegetables
David Perez spoke at HGP’s First Friday on November 7, 2025, which also served as the Grand Opening of the Holiday Store. David’s talk was preceded by talks from Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley and California Assemblymember Gail Pellerin.
