Green Space, Food Sovereignty, Youth Development: Lopez Urban Farm

Green space, park access, and trees

San Gabriel Valley

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Pomona’s Lopez Urban Farm, at the eastern edge of LA County, addresses urgent needs for green space, food sovereignty, youth development, and culturally affirming programs. Our community - 92% people of color, 77% Latino/a - faces high pollution, food deserts, and low park access. Three nearby tracts are USDA low-income/low food access. Over 88% of youth qualify for free/reduced lunch, and 23% of residents are extremely low-income. For 5+ years, we’ve built partnerships, including with Pomona Unified School District and numerous orgs to create a 3.5-acre educational, cultural, and nutritional hub. Today, we reach as many as 1,500 neighbors at some events; and we grow 100,000 lbs of food/year. But the need and goal is twice that. Pomonans say, “Make space for indigenous communities,” “Create more opportunities,” and “Help families avoid…processed food.” (2023 Community Assessment) We are here, and growing. We have land, inputs, and passion; we need paid staff to support this growth.

Our approach is rooted in Restorative Farming, a philosophy and practice rooted in nonviolent social justice principles. It prompts a shift in our perception of ourselves, the environment, and our communities, emphasizing their interconnectedness. We use our space and energy providing locally grown food, eco- and STEAM education and community engagement, and cultivating green spaces open to all. With an Executive Director, Director of Operations, and an otherwise all-volunteer team, we meet the food needs of 2,000 families annually through the Open Harvest Program; serve 30 kids monthly through the Junior Farmer Program; host the El Puestecito Night Market, offering crochet, beading, music, films, and a writing circle; provide eco-education through our Southwest Native Garden with drought-resistant plants and seed-saving rooted in indigenous knowledge; and through the Alkebulan Garden, celebrating African/American agricultural traditions and techniques; and teach culturally-appropriate farming methods reflecting the traditions of our largely Latino/a community. Our vision includes securing a half-time, paid farmer for our newest half-acre, who will engage youth in green career and life skills; and a half-time, paid assistant programs director/events coordinator to provide administrative and events support to our thriving urban farm.

With a year of paid staff, we can do more than keep up, we can grow. We’ll bring a new ½-acre into production, adding 50,000 pounds of food to our harvest; and engage Lopez Elementary School in learning that connects land, culture, and care. Farming in an urbanized city of 145,000 requires expertise and talent. Compensating people for their hard work is key, and doing so helps us attract and maintain exactly the right team.
Given our past, present, and future, Lopez Urban Farm is a model of Restorative Farming for cities like us across Los Angeles County. When folks in Watts, Van Nuys, Boyle Heights, Maywood, or even further east look around and say, “we need access to nature, we need good food, we need connection, our kids need job and life skills,” they see Lopez Urban Farm.
We feed ourselves, we nurture the future green workforce, we provide learning opportunities and community events throughout the year; but there’s so much more we want to do, and we just need the people to do it.