Edible Sacramento Fall 2022

Opposite, from top: Nelson Hawkins, founder of WeGrow Urban Farm. Photo by Fred Greaves/Center for Land-Based Learning; At Fiery Ginger Farm, Alejandro Ramirez Vannucci brings his goat, Luna, onto the scale to be weighed for the fair. This page, from left: Hope Sippola, a farmer at Fiery Ginger Farm, carries freshly harvested tomatoes; McAllister and Vannucci celebrate Luna the goat making the fair’s goal weight. Photos by Raoul Ortega

it challenging to identify more sites: Existing incubators are the result of strong relationships between CLBL, which was founded inYolo County, and local landowners. At least one farm is in its last year of production. Hawkins has spent five years build ing the soil at WeGrow, but next year the West Sacramento site will be bulldozed to build a‰ordable housing there. While it’s hard to argue against the merit of expanding a‰ordable housing, the trade-o‰s are acutely felt by farmers. CLBL plans to expand the number of incubator sites at its headquarters in Woodland in the coming years. Access to food that nurtures both eaters and the planet depends on e‰orts to in spire and support young people interested in agriculture. As McAllister points out, “Food is what makes us human; we build relationships and community when we grow food and eat together.”

pretzels, and decadent dinner rolls that were served at the 2022 FFA awards night dinner. Prior to the event, McAllister counseled students, “Be your selves, and be impressive! This could turn into a job opportunity if you really want it!” CAFFE is an example of Career Technical Education (CTE), formerly known as vocational training. The scholars/pupils of CAFFE, the largest student-run organization in the U.S., lead their local chapters and engage with members of other chapters, through sectional, regional, state, and national events. The Bryte Campus FFA chapter looks di‰erent frommany others: Very few members are “farm kids,” and many are non-white. They over come the challenges of living within city limits by boarding goats and hogs for the county fair at nearby Fiery Ginger Farm. What West Sacramento students lack in generational connec tions to agriculture, they make up for in enthusiasm: McAllis ter’s students are the first to volunteer at sectional and regional events and love visiting other chapters.West Sacramento students learned from peers in Clarksburg and Winters about raising hogs and showing sheep. They visit local farms and agribusinesses as a function of their involvement in FARMS Leadership, a CLBL ed ucational program for high school students. Several alumni are studying sustainable agriculture and food systems at UCDavis. CHALLENGES ON THE HORIZON The enthusiasm of the students and beginning farmers is infec tious, yet challenges remain. While CLBL operates agricultural training programs throughout the state, the incubator program only operates in Yolo County. Competing demands for land make

RESOURCES Center for Land-Based Learning’s Farm Business Incubator: Landbasedlearning.org/farm-academy-incubator.php WeGrow Farms: Wegrowfarms.org Culinary Arts and Farm-to-Fork Education (CAFFE) program at Bryte Career and College Training: Wusd. k12.ca.us/Departments/Educational-Services/Curricu lum-Instruction-and-Professional-Learning/Career-Tech nical-Education/Culinary-Arts-and-Farm-to-Fork-Educa tion-CAFFE/

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