Courtesy : noyofoodforest.org

Noyo Food Forest

Like many non-profits, we were hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects have been challenging.  Yet in spite of real limitations, we have had some amazing successes over the past 18 months. We pivoted to online sales, and set up a contact-less produce pickup for our CSA. We managed to successfully run internship programs for high school students while respecting social distancing, mask wearing, and heightened cleaning protocols. The positive effects of getting our youth outside and working in the soil during a time of fear and uncertainty cannot be overstated.

We were able to participate in an all-school meal program and donations to the Fort Bragg Food Bank increased as the organization remained true to its mission of serving the community, especially in times of need.

However, COVID also severely limited our ability to fundraise – to gather and celebrate our shared experiences of growing food and growing community.  The coming together for live events including our signature Earth Day Festival, annual Harvest Dinner, and community workshops has not been possible.  We are looking forward to a time in the (hopefully near!) future when these events can take place again.   We need you, our community, to help us get there.

We remain committed to and driven by the original mission – we are here to grow food to feed the community, and especially the younger generation in our local schools. Moreover, we are committed to providing educational and real job opportunities to teens who participate in our internship programs. We strive to offer them an opportunity to engage with their food system, and learn a model for growing food that can serve them and their families now and in the future.

Now more than ever, our community needs the Noyo Food Forest; our mission is not just about growing good food and showing the next generation how to do it, it is about hope, community, persistence, and offering all people a place to come and be a part of something that is wonderfully alive.

In keeping with the natural cycles of the garden, we are taking a planned seasonal break. This will give the garden time to rejuvenate as it is being seeded with cover crops, and mulched for winter protection. Veronica Storms, gardener extraordinaire and part of the founding team, will be managing the process. This break will also give us, the members of the Noyo Food Forest board of directors, a chance to review grants, create our 2022 event calendar, and engage more with the community about visions and plans for the future.

Stay tuned for a plant and produce sale to close out the year, and for volunteer opportunities both during the winter and in the new year.

During this time, we are sad to be saying goodbye to our Executive Director, Emily Forster. Through her four years at NFF, she oversaw some of the most productive seasons – both in terms of produce and educational outreach – that the organization has seen. It is through her leadership that the internship and workshop programs reached so many community members. She has been a fearless leader during the pandemic, overcoming many barriers in her persistence to keep the garden open and functioning to provide both food and education to the community. We wish her the very best in her future endeavors.

The Noyo Food Forest has been a part of the community for over seventeen years and in these times, we especially feel a renewed sense of purpose, drive, urgency. We would like to take this opportunity to reiterate that as always, we are here for you, and here for the future. If you would like to be in touch, members of the board are available via email at noyofoodforest@gmail.com or by phone, at (707) 357-7680.

Warmest wishes and abundant hope for the future.

Sincerely,

The Noyo Food Forest Board of Directors

Frank Menhams, President

Teresa Raffo

Steve Lund

Tracy Wolfson

Sara Kelemen