Vineyards and Veggies with Urban Farming
Generous Earth, Generous Hearts: A local winery joins mission with international organization to eradicate hunger one acre at a time
by Ashley Self
At the end of a non-descript dirt driveway east of Paso Robles sits a well-tended one-acre vegetable garden. It is full of tomatoes, squash, asparagus, melons, peppers, and basil, bordered by lavender, and surrounded by the lush, green vineyards of Steinbeck Vineyard & Winery. It is thriving in perfect rows, fresh-faced alongside the modest original Steinbeck home and its half-century-old outbuildings. However, this is not your average family garden. To the people tending this plot, it is a garden of opportunity, both literally and metaphorically, and they are master gardeners both literally and metaphorically.
The garden is the first in a pilot program called Vineyards Growing Veggies™, and is new initiative and an extension of Urban Farming’s Include Food™ when planting and landscaping. Established in Detroit, Michigan, in 2005, Urban Framing is now an international organization, with gardens growing from Jamaica and Haiti to Canada and England, and on a mission is to end hunger in our generation.
In San Luis Obispo county, there are an estimated 35,000 people who are considered “food insecure”—meaning they live their daily lives in fear of hunger or starvation. That is 15% of the population, and the national average. Steinbeck Vineyards & Winery is the first vineyard anywhere to participate by donating one fertile acre, nestled among thousands of acres of vines, that will generate approximately 6-7 tons of fresh, local produce annually, all of which will be distributed to volunteers, individuals and families in need. Carl Hansen of the Paso Robles chapter of the Food Bank estimates that two or three of these one-acre gardens could serve the entire population of “food insecure” residents in this county.
The intention of the pilot program is to use this model to expand the Vineyards Growing Veggies™ initiative state-, nation-, and ultimately worldwide, planting and harvesting small plots of fallow vineyard land using donated resources and volunteer labor. It is impossible not to liken the scenario to the organic lifecycle of a garden: a seed is planted, it bears fruit, from that fruit seeds are collected and distributed, and the cycle begins again in another garden.
The seed was planted last summer at the final competition of the Winery Music Awards at River Oaks Hot Springs and Spa. Kathy Kelly, Founder and Producer of the Winery Music Awards was introduced to Taja Sevelle, Founder of Urban Farming, when the two collaborated on how they could work together. That collaboration resulted in two initiatives: Vineyards Growing Veggies™ Pilot Program at Steinbeck Vineyards & Winery and Cal Poly Ag school’s involvement with Urban Farming’s “Food Chain” edible wall project in downtown Los Angeles. While Urban Farming is focused on growing produce in low-income, inner-city neighborhoods, it seemed natural, given the surroundings, to expand into a rural setting, making use of the rich, fertile resources this region is known for. From there, Kelly approached Cindy Newkirk-Steinbeck, Director of Marketing for Steinbeck Vineyards & Winery whom she had met several times, and the family readily agreed. The program evolved to include Melanie Blankenship, owner of Nature’s Touch Nursery in Templeton as Master Gardener, Amy White of Backyard Harvest for distribution, and, Carl Hansen, Director of the Paso Robles chapter of the Food Bank. The irrigation system, seeds and seedlings, compost, tools and labor were generously donated by Farm Supply Company, Greenheart Farms, Botanical Interests Seed Packets, Hometown Nursery, Home Depot, Green Acres Lavender Farm, Community Recycling, Premier Ag, Trader Joe’s and Richard Baker Photography.
To the creative and passionate individuals behind VGV this garden will literally feed the hungry, and literally and metaphorically bring people back to earth, back to the soil that sustains them, and give them a reason to appreciate it intrinsically—the unmistakable taste of a ripe tomato just off the vine. Both Cindy and Melanie are daughters of farmers—Cindy’s farming roots go back six generations in Paso Robles, and Melanie’s grandparents were migrant farmers at a time when the land that is now the Paso Fairgrounds was a family farm. They speak with the confidence of women who could feed their families through hunting and farming if the need arose. For them, this program is also an opportunity to impart some of that wisdom with the hopes that the art of living sustainability is not lost.
Amy White, Executive Director of Backyard Harvest, Paso Robles chapter, established in 2006, has lived in Paso Robles for 10 years and grew up in nearby Atascadero. She gets her green thumb handed down from generations in her family being home gardeners.
¬¬¬¬
Kathy Kelly also grew up in a rural setting on the opposite side of the country in a small town about the size of Templeton, called Plainville, 50 miles outside of Boston. She ran through acres of cornfields and even grew her own vegetable garden every summer. After 30 years of living in concrete, urban settings, from Atlanta to LA, getting back to the earth gives her a renewed appreciation for the area. With 29,000 acres of vineyards in the county, and 35,000 hungry people, she saw the need and the ability to fill it. It is her hope that the pilot program will run seamlessly, making it easier for other vineyards to say “yes.” It seems to be going that way. The garden was planted on May 31 with volunteer labor. To date over 536 pounds of fresh, locally-grown veggies have been lovingly harvested and given to families in need all around SLO county.
During WWII, Americans planted 20 million victory gardens producing millions of tons of produce so that commercially farmed goods could be saved for our troops. At the hands of an experience gardener, a patch of dirt, and handful of seeds, water, and sun can change people’s lives. Vineyards Growing Veggies™ plans on proving that, one vineyard, one acre at a time.
¬¬¬
Ubran Farming: www.urbanfarming.org
Steinbeck Winery & Vineyards: http://steinbeckwines.com/
Backyard Harvest: http://www.backyardharvest.org/
Nature’s Touch: naturestouch@sbcglobal.net or 805-434-3062
Food Bank Coalition of San Luis Obispo County: http://www.slofoodbank.org/
Winery Music Awards: www.winerymusicawards.com
Jax Coffee House & Roastery www.jaxcoffeehouse.com
by Ashley Self
At the end of a non-descript dirt driveway east of Paso Robles sits a well-tended one-acre vegetable garden. It is full of tomatoes, squash, asparagus, melons, peppers, and basil, bordered by lavender, and surrounded by the lush, green vineyards of Steinbeck Vineyard & Winery. It is thriving in perfect rows, fresh-faced alongside the modest original Steinbeck home and its half-century-old outbuildings. However, this is not your average family garden. To the people tending this plot, it is a garden of opportunity, both literally and metaphorically, and they are master gardeners both literally and metaphorically.
The garden is the first in a pilot program called Vineyards Growing Veggies™, and is new initiative and an extension of Urban Farming’s Include Food™ when planting and landscaping. Established in Detroit, Michigan, in 2005, Urban Framing is now an international organization, with gardens growing from Jamaica and Haiti to Canada and England, and on a mission is to end hunger in our generation.
In San Luis Obispo county, there are an estimated 35,000 people who are considered “food insecure”—meaning they live their daily lives in fear of hunger or starvation. That is 15% of the population, and the national average. Steinbeck Vineyards & Winery is the first vineyard anywhere to participate by donating one fertile acre, nestled among thousands of acres of vines, that will generate approximately 6-7 tons of fresh, local produce annually, all of which will be distributed to volunteers, individuals and families in need. Carl Hansen of the Paso Robles chapter of the Food Bank estimates that two or three of these one-acre gardens could serve the entire population of “food insecure” residents in this county.
The intention of the pilot program is to use this model to expand the Vineyards Growing Veggies™ initiative state-, nation-, and ultimately worldwide, planting and harvesting small plots of fallow vineyard land using donated resources and volunteer labor. It is impossible not to liken the scenario to the organic lifecycle of a garden: a seed is planted, it bears fruit, from that fruit seeds are collected and distributed, and the cycle begins again in another garden.
The seed was planted last summer at the final competition of the Winery Music Awards at River Oaks Hot Springs and Spa. Kathy Kelly, Founder and Producer of the Winery Music Awards was introduced to Taja Sevelle, Founder of Urban Farming, when the two collaborated on how they could work together. That collaboration resulted in two initiatives: Vineyards Growing Veggies™ Pilot Program at Steinbeck Vineyards & Winery and Cal Poly Ag school’s involvement with Urban Farming’s “Food Chain” edible wall project in downtown Los Angeles. While Urban Farming is focused on growing produce in low-income, inner-city neighborhoods, it seemed natural, given the surroundings, to expand into a rural setting, making use of the rich, fertile resources this region is known for. From there, Kelly approached Cindy Newkirk-Steinbeck, Director of Marketing for Steinbeck Vineyards & Winery whom she had met several times, and the family readily agreed. The program evolved to include Melanie Blankenship, owner of Nature’s Touch Nursery in Templeton as Master Gardener, Amy White of Backyard Harvest for distribution, and, Carl Hansen, Director of the Paso Robles chapter of the Food Bank. The irrigation system, seeds and seedlings, compost, tools and labor were generously donated by Farm Supply Company, Greenheart Farms, Botanical Interests Seed Packets, Hometown Nursery, Home Depot, Green Acres Lavender Farm, Community Recycling, Premier Ag, Trader Joe’s and Richard Baker Photography.
To the creative and passionate individuals behind VGV this garden will literally feed the hungry, and literally and metaphorically bring people back to earth, back to the soil that sustains them, and give them a reason to appreciate it intrinsically—the unmistakable taste of a ripe tomato just off the vine. Both Cindy and Melanie are daughters of farmers—Cindy’s farming roots go back six generations in Paso Robles, and Melanie’s grandparents were migrant farmers at a time when the land that is now the Paso Fairgrounds was a family farm. They speak with the confidence of women who could feed their families through hunting and farming if the need arose. For them, this program is also an opportunity to impart some of that wisdom with the hopes that the art of living sustainability is not lost.
Amy White, Executive Director of Backyard Harvest, Paso Robles chapter, established in 2006, has lived in Paso Robles for 10 years and grew up in nearby Atascadero. She gets her green thumb handed down from generations in her family being home gardeners.
¬¬¬¬
Kathy Kelly also grew up in a rural setting on the opposite side of the country in a small town about the size of Templeton, called Plainville, 50 miles outside of Boston. She ran through acres of cornfields and even grew her own vegetable garden every summer. After 30 years of living in concrete, urban settings, from Atlanta to LA, getting back to the earth gives her a renewed appreciation for the area. With 29,000 acres of vineyards in the county, and 35,000 hungry people, she saw the need and the ability to fill it. It is her hope that the pilot program will run seamlessly, making it easier for other vineyards to say “yes.” It seems to be going that way. The garden was planted on May 31 with volunteer labor. To date over 536 pounds of fresh, locally-grown veggies have been lovingly harvested and given to families in need all around SLO county.
During WWII, Americans planted 20 million victory gardens producing millions of tons of produce so that commercially farmed goods could be saved for our troops. At the hands of an experience gardener, a patch of dirt, and handful of seeds, water, and sun can change people’s lives. Vineyards Growing Veggies™ plans on proving that, one vineyard, one acre at a time.
¬¬¬
Ubran Farming: www.urbanfarming.org
Steinbeck Winery & Vineyards: http://steinbeckwines.com/
Backyard Harvest: http://www.backyardharvest.org/
Nature’s Touch: naturestouch@sbcglobal.net or 805-434-3062
Food Bank Coalition of San Luis Obispo County: http://www.slofoodbank.org/
Winery Music Awards: www.winerymusicawards.com
Jax Coffee House & Roastery www.jaxcoffeehouse.com
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