SFBFS' Urban Farm

You are probably familiar with the work Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS) provides to the Sacramento community. You may have heard about their recent Turkey Drive and Turkey Distribution for over 8,000 families and the annual Run to Feed the Hungry. But all of this is just the tip of the carrot. SFBFS will soon be offering gardening and cooking classes at their new Urban Farm where SFBFS’ clients can learn how to grow, prepare and cook the food that they cultivate. SFBFS’ Urban Farm will include a greenhouse, outdoor kitchen, composting and worm vermi-composting bins along with other demonstration areas.

The Urban Farm is just a watermelon’s throw from SFBFS’ new Education and Technology Center and lies adjacent to SFBFS’ edible playground with over 20 fruit and citrus trees and a children’s garden. The Urban Farm came about from the idea that families who receive food are very disconnected with its origin and they often do not know how to prepare and cook the fresh fruits and vegetables currently provided through SFBFS’ Food program. The Urban Farm will teach families how to grow food and how to prepare delicious, inexpensive meals and expose them to an opportunity to improve their health. Items grown in the Urban Farm will also be used to supplement SFBFS’ Food program, a distribution of fresh produce at 12 locations throughout Sacramento each month. This added approach to education at SFBFS aligns with their mission to assist families in need by moving them towards self sufficiency and financial independence.

2012 will continue to be a busy year for SFBFS as many more families turn to and utilize the organization for education and support through their nine free programs. SFBFS’ programs include Food, Clothing, Adult Education, Parent Education, Women’s Wisdom Art, Computer Clubhouse, Youth Academy, PlayCare and Senior. All programs are provided free of charge and are made possible through community support. Over 15,000 men, women and children receive services from SFBFS each month. The new Urban Farm will initially offer a resource and teaching tool for SFBFS’ clients, but will grow with time to serve more families in our community.

Did one of SFBFS’ programs listed above catch your attention? See a way you can make a difference? There are ample ways to get involved with SFBFS. If you are interested in volunteering your time to help with any program, including assisting with the new Urban Farm, please attend an upcoming volunteer orientation. Dates, times and locations for volunteer orientations are listed online.

For more information on the services provided by Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, along with upcoming gardening and cooking classes, please visit www.sacramentofoodbank.org.

Written by Bill Maynard, Garden Manager