The Real Dirt

Growing Resiliency

Tuesday, November 28, 2017 Filed in: Food Security | Fundraisers | Gardener Spotlight | Thank You!

Over the past decade, the Gardens Project has been growing more than just delicious, local produce. We’ve built 47 community gardens to grow resiliency in our community.

Take it from Lorindra Frances, a member of the brand new Middletown Community Garden. “The whole fire thing this year was really scary since I lost everything in the first one. But to have a garden again makes my heart really really happy,” Frances remarked as she watered her raised bed, beautifully adorned by a variety of vegetables. “I left during the evacuations and those that didn’t, watered my area while I was gone. What better way than with the earth to unite a community with so much devastation.”

Sharing the Bounty 2013

Tuesday, September 17, 2013 Filed in: Fundraisers

Having difficulty viewing this great slideshow, go directly to our Flickr site:

Sharing the Bounty 2013

The 4th annual Sharing the Bounty fundraiser for The Gardens Project of NCO held at Saracina Vineyards this past Saturday, September 14th was a huge success. The event raised $10,000 for developing school and community gardens. Over 75 community members were treated to a unique and delicious 4 course meal prepared by local chefs:

All food and wines for the event were donated by local farms and wineries, then presented to the chefs to create unique the unique flavors of our county. Dinner was served overlooking the olive orchard, vineyards and mountains of the Sanel Valley of Hopland. A huge thank you to John Fetzer and Patty Rock for donating their space at Saracina for the event.

Additionally, a tremendous thank you to the following individuals and businesses that made the event possible by donating their labor and products, thus helping create a resilient and accessible local food system in Mendocino County and beyond:

The evening's chefs and restaurant owners: Cynthia Ariosta of Saucy, Anna Beuselinck and Gary Breen of Campovida. The wineries and winemakers that provided the supreme libations for the evening: Husch Vineyards, Scharffenberger Cellars, Roederer Estates, Alex MacGregor and Saracina/Atrea, and The Apple Farm. The foundation of our local food movement, the farmers and producers: Anderson Valley High School Farm, Aqua Gardens Family Farm, Cinnamon Bear Farm, Filigreen Farm, Floodgate Farm, Green Uprising at Blackberry Bend, Live Power Community Farm, Leonardis Organics, Russian River Pistachios, Lovin' Mama Farm, Mendocino Grain Project, Mendocino Organics, Noyo Hill Farm, Ocean Harvest Sea Vegetable Company, Seely Farm Stand, Schat's Bakery, Shamrock Artisan Goat Cheese, Stella Cadente Olive Oil Company, Tres Classique, and Cuppa Joe to Go.

Special thanks also go to our volunteers from Community HealthCorps and First 5 Mendocino, Thompson's Party Rentals for giving us a great discount, Jim Stuart and UVMC for material support, Marcos Pereda for his great music, and Moira Evans for leading dinner service.

We live in an amazing community and are grateful to all for sharing the bounty to help us build school and community gardens.

Missed the event, but still want to help? Donate! Volunteer! Contact us!

See you at Sharing the Bounty 2014.

Black Tie Boogie Success

Wednesday, January 27, 2010 Filed in: Events | Fundraisers

The Noyo Food Forest entertained about 300 guests at the Black Tie Boogie, held at the Redwood Coast Senior Center on February 13th. The Senior Center was transformed into a red, black and silver classy dining room and adjacent jazz lounge, complete with a kids activity room and silent auction. The event had something for everyone and truly brought together people from different generations and pockets of the community.

The Senior Center served 180 meals that featured locally grown and organic food. Everyone was dressed to the nines and enjoyed a beautiful meal by the Senior Center’s Chef and yummy desserts provided by the Montessori del Mar Learning Center.

In the other room the Richard Cooper Trio and Lavender Grace entertained the crowd that mingled at the bar and relaxed at the cocktail tables while sipping local wine and beer. The silent auction was a hit with exciting items generously donated by local businesses and community members. The kids had a great time with activities provided by Sue Magoo and Jenny, Too of the Mendocino Coast Children’s Discovery Mooseum.

Later in the evening the jazz ended and DJ Selector Science played as people young and old boogied down on the dance floor. There was even a special performance by three superstar hula hoopers!

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The Food Forest would like to thank everyone who helped make his event possible! We are so grateful for all of our WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS and all the SUPPORT from our GENEROUS COMMUNITY!

Save the date for the Noyo Food Forest’s next fabulous and fun FREE fundraising festival….
Earthday 2010
Be the Change!
Saturday April 24th
at the Learning Garden at Fort Bragg High School.
Live music, food, pedal-powered smoothies, workshops, interactive community art, kids activities and performances, and more!!! For more info or to get involved please contact the NFF office at 964-0218.