FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 22, 2008

---

Sunnyvale, CA — Full Circle Farm’s 11-acres is managed by local nonprofit Sustainable Community Gardens and owned by Santa Clara Unified School District. This groundbreaking partnership, now just over a year old, was forged to create the new sustainable farm. As a unique educational space for district students, the farm will soon bring it’s fresh, healthy food to district cafeterias and outdoor education to both students and community. After a year of concentrated efforts from both staff and community volunteers, the farm’s very first harvest has just come out of the ground.

“What can I say? This is as local as it gets!” said Cyrus Fahkari, a neighbor who walked to the farmstand’s opening on Monday with his wife Jesse to buy farm-fresh, pesticide-free zucchini and basil, “it’s the best thing I can feed my family, and it’s something I can do to support my community.”

Apparently the community couldn’t agree more. Full Circle Farm launched its neighborhood farmstand on Monday June 21st, and the response has been tremendous. The farmstand – a makeshift collection of tables and tents adorned with hand-drawn signs and baskets overflowing with heirloom varieties of squash, cucumbers, and basil not found grocery stores – is now open weeknights from 5pm-8pm, and is run entirely by volunteers including the nonprofit’s board of directors. “It’s great to be out here with the community, sharing our bounty, making friends. This the whole reason for this place.” Said board member Josh Salans.

Between 30 and 35 customers dropped by, mostly families coming on foot or bicycle, and the farm made it’s first $105 in produce sales. In the next couple of weeks huge numbers of insanely fresh tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, tomatillos, and melons will start rolling out, and that’s when the neighborhood farm will start its first season of community supported agriculture, commonly know as a CSA program.

“CSA shares give the community the chance buy more than just produce – it’s a pride of place and ownership. It brings the farm’s seasonal rhythms into member’s kitchens, and into their family’s lives.” Said Sarah Weiderkehr, Full Circle’s Farm Manager, pictured here with the farm’s first zucchini.

The farm’s first CSA season begins August 6th. For $300, anyone can buy a three-month CSA share, and the farm is also offering a limited number of low-cost shares and work-exchange opportunities to community members. Each Wednesday between 5-8pm, CSA members pick up their own specially prepared basket of produce. The CSA pickup also coincides with the farm’s volunteer night, so that members have the chance to help out on the farm and enjoy a potluck with their neighbors when they drop by.

Only 40 shares are available in Full Circle Farm’s first season. Anyone interested in becoming a CSA member can contact CSA Coordinator Amie Frish at amie@fullcirclesunnyvale.org.

Next the farm gears up for it’s newest crop – 360 sixth graders who will pilot the farm’s first educational programs in the Fall.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE     January 12, 2008

Contacts:
Liz Snyder
Sustainable Community Gardens
Phone: 650-283-9360
Fax: 408-735-8166 �
Email: liz@fullcirclesunnnyvale.org
www.fullcirclesunnyvale.org 

Tabitha Kappeler-Hurley
Santa Clara Unified School District
Phone: 408-423-2109
Fax: 408-423-2185
Email: tkhurley@scusd.net
www.scusd.net
SAVE THE DATE
What:  Full Circle Farm’s Tills the Soil, Gets Ready to Plant First Crops

When:  Wednesday January 14, 12:00 PM 

Where: 1055 Dunford Way, Sunnyvale, CA 94087

Why:  Full Circle Farm, a project of local nonprofit Sustainable Community Gardens, is an 11-acre organic farm in the heart of Silicon Valley that provides education and volunteer opportunities to local school children and their neighbors. By bringing fresh, local food to district cafeterias and inspiring kids to get outside and get their hands dirty, Full Circle Farm will inspire students with a unique, hands-on celebration of health: healthy schools, healthy communities, and a healthy environment.

This Wednesday, Full Circle Farm will turn the soil for the first time. This long-awaited event will allow farm staff and volunteers to plant the first cover crops – special plants that enrich the health of the soil – on Saturday the 19th. The ripping and disking of the soil will be carried out by independent contractor Ernie ________, who will bring his ________ out at the former sports field. His tractor will break up compacted soil and leave a rich, earthy loam in which to plant the farm’s first seeds.

Neighborhood farms cultivate healthy bodies, a sound ecology, and strong communities.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts:
Liz Snyder
Sustainable Community Gardens
Phone: 650-283-9360
Fax: 408-735-8166 �
Email: liz@fullcirclesunnnyvale.org
www.fullcirclesunnyvale.org

Tabitha Kappeler-Hurley
Santa Clara Unified School District
Phone: 408-423-2109
Fax: 408-423-2185
Email: tkhurley@scusd.net
www.scusd.net

Community rallies to support new neighborhood farm with orchard tree adoptions.

Sunnyvale, CA — Full Circle Farm, a project of local nonprofit Sustainable Community Gardens, is an 11-acre organic farm in the heart of Silicon Valley that provides education and volunteer opportunities to local school children and their neighbors.

“It’s important to have a neighborhood farm because we need fresh food and a place for neighbors to gather.” – Maxine Hallberg, Age 7, Laurelwood Elementary School

Apparently the neighbors couldn’t agree more.  Full Circle Farm launched its Adopt-an-Orchard Tree Campaign just before Christmas and the response has been tremendous. To date, 42 orchard trees have been adopted by neighbors and supporters. Each tree that has been adopted for $200 will be planted along with a plaque containing a six-word dedication. Dedications so far have ranged from simple memorials to off-the-wall statements.

From “Tom M. – He made things grow” to “Erik and Kristin like this tree!” to “Tammy, your love keeps me blossoming” each statement is a testament to the neighborhood’s heart, humor, and creativity. Farm staff are hopeful that all 360 trees for the main orchard will be adopted, which will get the first crops in the ground this Spring, and kids on the farm the following school year.

“As the future stewards of our earth, we want our kids to know both the pressing need and the inherent joyfulness of growing food more locally. Full Circle Farm will not only expose our children to the joy of eating freshly picked organic food, it will help them see their own leadership potential in making both our community and our planet a healthier place.”   –Pat Flot, President, SCUSD Governing Board

This was why, in February 2007, Pat and the whole of Santa Clara Unified’s Governing Board voted to lease the district land behind Peterson Middle School to the farm.  Since then, the local nonprofit running the farm operation has been working to raise funds and awareness for the unique neighborhood farm. The amazing talents of community volunteers from all walks of life have made the breakneck start-up schedule possible. Says neighbor William Moeller, “Full Circle Farm is the volunteer opportunity I have been looking for in my community. It is a meaningful place where I can participate, where I can collaborate, in a program that generates enthusiasm and inspires dedication. There is so much intelligence and excitement behind the program. My contribution is not only desired, it is needed.”

Starting this spring, Full Circle Farm will plant their first crops, educate students about growing and eating fresh healthy food, and help create a unique resource built by, and for, the community!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE     September 17, 2007

Contacts:
Liz Snyder-Liles
Sustainable Community Gardens
Phone: 650-283-9360
Fax: 408-735-8166 �
Email: liz@fullcirclesunnnyvale.org
www.fullcirclesunnyvale.org 

Tabitha Kappeler-Hurley
Santa Clara Unified School District
Phone: 408-423-2109
Fax: 408-423-2185
Email: tkhurley@scusd.net
www.scusd.net

SPROUTING SOON! Organic school farm aims to create healthy communities while cultivating a new generation of environmental leaders.

SAVE THE DATE:
Full Circle Farm’s Groundbreaking Ceremony
Thursday September 27, 4:00 PM   Ceremonial tree planting at 5:15 PM
1055 Dunford Way, Sunnyvale, CA 94087
PLEASE NOTE: no electricity; parking available onsite for media only.
This is a free event; dress for the outdoors.

Sunnyvale, CA — Sustainable Community Gardens and Santa Clara Unified School District will celebrate a unique partnership and the groundbreaking of Full Circle Farm on Thursday September 27th at 4p.m. “Sunnyvale is an ideal setting for Full Circle Farm.  We are delighted to be setting down roots in historic soil and in a community that has shown tremendous support for Sustainable Community Gardens’ mission.” said Josh Salans, Executive Director of Sustainable Community Gardens, which also runs the 92-bed Charles Street Gardens. 

By bringing fresh, local food to district cafeterias, Full Circle Farm will inspire students with a unique, hands-on celebration of health: healthy schools, healthy communities, and a healthy environment.  The farm will offer outdoor classes in nutrition and sustainable living, community festivals and workshops, and a unique open space with trails meandering through fields and orchards.  Fifty percent of the farm’s produce will go to the district’s school lunch programs, where 45% of students qualify for free or reduced school lunch.  School farms have dual effects on student learning:  they can help students grasp the most important environmental issues of our time, and also inspire them toward personal health and fitness. “We are looking forward to providing more fresh fruits and vegetables in our cafeterias, not only to feed our students healthier meals, but to help them learn how to eat healthy outside of school.” says Roger Barnes, SCUSD Business Administrator.

Liz Snyder-Liles, Full Circle Farm’s Program Director, adds “Our far-flung food supply is the world’s biggest oil guzzler. More than our cars, more than the military.  The best thing we can do to preserve our environment is to bring food production back home.  To that end, we are helping to grow a new generation of environmental leaders, working together to make a local food system possible.”

Full Circle is also proud to be a partner in Kaiser Permanente’s Healthy Eating, Active Living Initiative, working to promote healthy living through access to fresh food and open spaces. “Kaiser Permanente’s partnership with the Sustainable Community Gardens is strategically aligned with our Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Initiative. HEAL emphasizes a collaborative and multifaceted approach to bend the trend of the obesity epidemic by enabling healthy transformation in communities and generating lasting health improvements,” says Mary Ann Barnes, Sr. VP and Area Manager of Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara.  “Kaiser Permanente envisions communities coming together to plant, cultivate and enjoy healthy organic produce, a lifestyle that will last a lifetime.”

By cultivating healthy outdoor spaces for our kids, our region can support a healthy and sustainable future for the generations to come.