Richmond High School Urban Agriculture and Food Systems Class Supported Through Urban Tilth

Who Are We? The Urban Ag class is an elective course of 20 students that meet twice a week Monday’s and Thursdays from 3:15 to 5:15 as a pilot program The Urban Ag class is an elective course of 20 students that meet twice a week Monday’s and Thursdays from 3:15 to 5:15 as a pilot program We plant, grow, and harvest our own vegetables in our community garden at RHS and at Adams middle school We plant, grow, and harvest our own vegetables in our community garden at RHS and at Adams middle school We Distribute CSA boxes of produce to families in our community. We Distribute CSA boxes of produce to families in our community.

How did we get started? The Youth Mentors and Educators (YME) Club on Campus and many students revitalized an abandoned garden space on campus as part of their service learning. The Youth Mentors and Educators (YME) Club on Campus and many students revitalized an abandoned garden space on campus as part of their service learning. The first year was a lot of infrastructure building, some planting and amazement about what grew out of the ground!The first year was a lot of infrastructure building, some planting and amazement about what grew out of the ground!

Before and After Before After

Creation of the Class! The brain-child of Mr. Kurtz-Nicholl and Park Guthrie of Urban Tilth.The brain-child of Mr. Kurtz-Nicholl and Park Guthrie of Urban Tilth. The class is based on a model of a class that Urban Tilth developed back in 2004The class is based on a model of a class that Urban Tilth developed back in 2004 A Stewardship Council grant co-written by 2 Richmond High Students actually helps pay for the pilot of this classA Stewardship Council grant co-written by 2 Richmond High Students actually helps pay for the pilot of this class

What Is Our Mission? To provide fresh vegetables to the families in our community. To provide fresh vegetables to the families in our community. To provide knowledge to students and families about the benefits of consuming produce. To provide knowledge to students and families about the benefits of consuming produce. To incorporate more community gardens around Richmond/ San Pablo schools dedicated to the distribution of produce. To incorporate more community gardens around Richmond/ San Pablo schools dedicated to the distribution of produce. For students to discuss and learn about the American food system and it’s effects on our Richmond community. For students to discuss and learn about the American food system and it’s effects on our Richmond community.

What is the model for the Urban Agriculture and Food Systems Class? Our class is composed of four groups individually chosen by the students. Our class is composed of four groups individually chosen by the students. Group 1: Nursery and propagation. Group 1: Nursery and propagation. Group 2: Documentation group. Group 2: Documentation group. Group 3: Community Food System Group Group 3: Community Food System Group Group 4: CSA Marketing group. Group 4: CSA Marketing group.

Nursery and propagation Plants and makes sure all of our vegetables are in good condition. Plants and makes sure all of our vegetables are in good condition. Helps put together the weekly CSA Helps put together the weekly CSA Works in other local community gardens. Works in other local community gardens. Helps make garden look beautiful, starts vegetables from seeds. Helps make garden look beautiful, starts vegetables from seeds.

Documentation group Posts bi-weekly video blog to You tube on the status of the accomplishments of the Urban Agriculture class.Posts bi-weekly video blog to You tube on the status of the accomplishments of the Urban Agriculture class. Is in charge of planning and compiling this presentation for the city council.Is in charge of planning and compiling this presentation for the city council.

Marketing group Creates bi-weekly newsletter that accompanies the families CSA box. Creates bi-weekly newsletter that accompanies the families CSA box. Acts as a liaison between parents and the Urban Agriculture class, greeting the parents and collecting the subscription fee. Acts as a liaison between parents and the Urban Agriculture class, greeting the parents and collecting the subscription fee. In charge of measuring the success of the CSA through family surveys. In charge of measuring the success of the CSA through family surveys.

Community food system Surveys Richmond High students on their opinions about food and their eating habits. Surveys Richmond High students on their opinions about food and their eating habits. Students are using the RFEI index to measure the status of Richmond’s food system. Students are using the RFEI index to measure the status of Richmond’s food system.

CSA Accomplishments Week 1 – 70 Pounds Week 1 – 70 Pounds Week 2 – 82 Pounds Week 2 – 82 Pounds Week 3 – 102 Pounds Week 3 – 102 Pounds Week 4 – 122 Pounds Week 4 – 122 Pounds Week Pounds Week Pounds Week Pounds Week Pounds Total Yield Pounds of Fresh Produce for Richmond High Families Total Yield Pounds of Fresh Produce for Richmond High Families 70 Families Participating 70 Families Participating

Yield Per Area Between February and April, we harvested approximately 220 pounds of produce from 1,200 square feet of garden beds at Adams and 1,000 square feet of raised-beds at RHS.Between February and April, we harvested approximately 220 pounds of produce from 1,200 square feet of garden beds at Adams and 1,000 square feet of raised-beds at RHS. 0.1 pounds per square foot of garden bed space for 3 months.0.1 pounds per square foot of garden bed space for 3 months. If we keep producing at this rate, we’ll produce 0.4 pounds of produce per square foot of garden bed space per year. BUT...we should beat this next year because...(1) zucchini season is about to begin (get more production during the summer) and (2) we will fine-tune our growing systems and improve our soil each year 1/2 acre has about 10,000 square feet of garden beds space and could yield up to 10,000 pounds of fresh produce per year.

Gleaning More than 8 volunteers have given us more than 200 pounds of gleaned fruit to include in the CSA boxes.More than 8 volunteers have given us more than 200 pounds of gleaned fruit to include in the CSA boxes. There are probably hundreds or thousands of backyard fruit trees in Richmond that go under-utilized.There are probably hundreds or thousands of backyard fruit trees in Richmond that go under-utilized. The Richmond High CSA provides a way to “capture” these resources, while improving food securityThe Richmond High CSA provides a way to “capture” these resources, while improving food security

So what is the problem in Richmond? Community food system group data.

RFEI Data / Student Surveys RFEI Data RFEI Data Working within a one-mile radius of Richmond High, this area had an RFEI score of about three. Working within a one-mile radius of Richmond High, this area had an RFEI score of about three. Meaning: For every one healthy food vendor, there were 3 unhealthy food vendors. Meaning: For every one healthy food vendor, there were 3 unhealthy food vendors. Student Survey Data Student Survey Data Richmond High Students eat Fast Food an average of 7 times a month. Which is 84 Times a year Richmond High Students eat Fast Food an average of 7 times a month. Which is 84 Times a year RHS Students drink an average of 1.5 sodas a day RHS Students drink an average of 1.5 sodas a day On a scale of 1-10 (1 being disagree and 10 being agree) Students gave a score of 6.9 when asked whether they know friends or family with a diet-related disease On a scale of 1-10 (1 being disagree and 10 being agree) Students gave a score of 6.9 when asked whether they know friends or family with a diet-related disease

Why is Urban Agriculture part of the solution? Urban Agriculture is providing foods to families that doesn’t need to be brought in from far places. Urban Agriculture is providing foods to families that doesn’t need to be brought in from far places. Urban agriculture is providing families with fresh produce to create a better healthy living. Urban agriculture is providing families with fresh produce to create a better healthy living. Urban agriculture can keep more income and jobs in our community which cycles around and builds the wealth of our community. Urban agriculture can keep more income and jobs in our community which cycles around and builds the wealth of our community. Urban Agriculture can involve high school students learning a deep connection to the land and how local markets work. Urban Agriculture can involve high school students learning a deep connection to the land and how local markets work.

What can the City Council do to help this movement? Encourage to establish more community gardens around Richmond/San Pablo schools through funding of Urban Agriculture classes and garden projects like HEAL, The Lincoln School Garden, the RHS Community Garden and many others. Encourage to establish more community gardens around Richmond/San Pablo schools through funding of Urban Agriculture classes and garden projects like HEAL, The Lincoln School Garden, the RHS Community Garden and many others. More specifically, we need the city council to help fund this program! RHS is covering the cost of an instructor for the Urban Ag and Food Systems Class, but as we seek to expand, we need funding for additional costs of expansion, and maintaining the program over the summer. More specifically, we need the city council to help fund this program! RHS is covering the cost of an instructor for the Urban Ag and Food Systems Class, but as we seek to expand, we need funding for additional costs of expansion, and maintaining the program over the summer.

Thank You! We hope to be invited back to relay our progress in the future. We hope to be invited back to relay our progress in the future. Don’t forget, teens are an important part of building our community and we are looking towards our future, and it starts with healthy food. Don’t forget, teens are an important part of building our community and we are looking towards our future, and it starts with healthy food.