A community approach to ending hunger - We grow fruits and vegetables on available plots of farm land using beginning farmers and volunteers, and distribute the produce via local food banks. Value proposition – connect underutilized resources such as idle land, beginning farmers and volunteers to produce locally grown nutritious fruits and vegetables and distribute to those in need Grow thousands of lbs of fresh vegetables at a fraction of retail cost

Approximately 35,000 Yolo County residents are food insecure. Food insecurity is the lack of dependable, affordable and convenient access to healthy foods Our project attempts to help the Yolo Food Bank address all three aspects of food insecurity

How did this all start? 1.5 acres isolated tract, fallow for years Good soils, access to irrigation water Yolo Food Connect Partners Yolo Food Bank Center for Land-Based Learning Volunteers

Yolo Food Bank Integrated approach Crop planning, delivery and distribution Center for Land Based-Learning Organic, sustainable Farming Knowledge California Farm Academy – beginning farmers

Crop Plan worked with YFB and CLBL to develop Kids Farmers Markets Beets, carrots, potatoes, butternut squash, pumpkins Expect to produce 25 – 35,000 lbs of vegetables annually

2013 Partial Year Result Hired part-time farm manager from CA Farm Academy Installed irrigation Crops Planted in June/July Harvest Completed in mid October Delivered approximately 9,500 lbs of fresh vegetables

Volunteers are integral to our success Labor is highest cost input…..by far….. for no pesticide farming. We have part time farm manager – all other labor is volunteer. Community involvement creates awareness, breaks down barriers. So far…. 650 plus volunteer hours from more than 75 volunteers!

Who are our Volunteers? Community Service Groups – Rotary Sunrise - Woodland Davis Odd Fellows Girl Scouts Other Non Profits Yolo Land Trust Audubon Center for Land-Based Learning Businesses Cardinal Health (Dixon) Individuals

What’s Next? Look to expand and improve Locate volunteer farming expertise Identify committed volunteers and groups as partners Small Amount of land can make a big difference Solve Labor bottlenecks Grants, donations Only 15 acres, intensively farmed, all year long could produce K lbs for 35,000 food insecure

How can you help? Volunteer! Plant, cultivate and harvest in 2014! Community Service groups like Rotary Businesses - Scouts, 4-H, School groups Individuals Share our Story Visit us on Facebook Tell a Friend or family member

Learn More: FoodBankFarmers.org Facebook.com/foodbankfarms Davis Enterprise article Woodland Daily Democrat article CBS Sacramento Channel 13 clip Yolo Food Bank website