On Saturday, we at Urban Sprouts experienced an outpouring of love, enthusiasm and support for our work like never before! Our fundraiser brunch, Greens, Eggs & Jam, was an amazing success. At June Jordan School for Equity, we unveiled the new expanded garden on site, enjoyed delicious brunch cooked by local chefs using our produce, and even received a commendation from SF Supervisors David Campos and John Avalos. Thank you so much to everyone who made the day so special! More photos here!
Volunteers arrived early (the first was Juan, a student!) to set up. Facing the gray and windy weather, we decided to set up our elegant tables in the school hallways, flanked by lockers. The effect was quite special! As people arrived, they explored the expanded garden, tasted and smelled samples from the herb bed, and greeted our chickens. Guests were awed by the diversity, beauty and size of the garden, a real accomplishment that began seven years ago as only a small patch carved out between weeds and asphalt.
Next, to the food! Chef Laurence from Nopa, Chef Dennis from Namu, and our student chefs turned school garden-grown produce into tasty dishes bursting with veggies.
Then, staff members and students spoke about the impact of our work. Juan told us how the garden class at June Jordan taught him a work ethic that would help him to succeed in high school and in college. Raul told us how his pride in growing kale in the Ida B Wells garden helped him become a student leader, proud of his school and confident in working to make schools better and safer. Supervisors Campos and Avalos spoke with such enthusiasm, giving us a commendation for our work and a boost of heartfelt support. Finally, the school’s co-director Matt Alexander made an inspiring pitch, urging the crowd to dig deep and make a financial investment in our work. These speakers’ words of praise meant so much — they described us as real community-builders, sharing the power of growing your own healthy food with youth, schools and families.
As smiling faces beamed back at us and hands raised pledging donations, I felt a surge of hope, that more is possible than I even dreamed. If Urban Sprouts can connect all these people, bringing love, enthusiasm, and financial support to a school campus so in need, then our school gardens really can change the world.
Thank you to Ed Ritger for the beautiful photos.
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