US (CA): Suppliers donate greenhouse to sustainable urban farm
The recent development brings the project’s total funding to more than $100,000, which includes a donation from National University System Chancellor Dr. Michael R. Cunningham, who is personally contributing a total of $30,000 over three years.
The most recent $50,000 support, which comes from the Contra Costa County Livable Communities Trust Fund at the recommendation of Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors Federal Glover and Karen Mitchoff, is for the assembly of a 6000 square foot, high-tech, commercial greenhouse donated by AgraTech, Inc., of Pittsburg, CA. Thanks to the latest funding, the greenhouse is expected to be built in 2017. AgLantis will be raising funds from the community to build the required fencing and to equip the greenhouse. The aim of the CoCo San Sustainable Farm is to grow produce on the 15-acre urban farm in 2018.
The project addresses a need to reduce nutritional poverty – an issue of global importance – by providing access to free or low-cost fresh produce through a unique combination of using urban public buffer land, community involvement, otherwise wasted recycled water, and harnessing the produce growth efficiencies of greenhouses.
“Very seldom are you able to work on something of this magnitude that has such a widespread impact on the public good,” said Carolyn Phinney, president of AgLantis. “The CoCo San Sustainable Farm will be able to feed a countless number of people who might otherwise go hungry; it will serve as a vehicle to educate a large number of students; it will use high-quality, recycled water; and because it has brought so many people together, it is doing so much in building a community. You can’t ask for more than that.”
The project aligns with the County’s Livable Communities Trust Fund’s goals in promoting innovative land use planning and design principles, and promoting economic revitalization.
According to the project plans, CoCo Sustainable Farm, situated in Contra Costa County’s Northern Waterfront across state Route 4 from Buchanan Field Airport, will be irrigated by recycled, nutrient-rich, agricultural grade water that currently ends up in the Suisun Bay as treated wastewater. Also, the farm will benefit from the efficiencies of greenhouse production, which produces up to 40 times the volume of food at one-tenth the water use.
The Contra Costa Food Bank, located about a mile away, will be responsible for picking up and distributing fresh produce from the farm to its clients and area schools. Community supported agriculture boxes from the farm will provide low-cost, seasonal food to local residents. And the farm hopes to be a jobs incubator for the green economy. Upcoming plans for the project include constructing fences and a water delivery system to irrigate the farm, amending the soil on the 15 acres, and building a road with recycled asphalt to access the site.
In addition, CoCo San Sustainable Farm will serve an educational function, serving as a hands-on outdoor classroom for students (especially from Diablo Valley College, Horticulture) and local residents, highlighting that every aspect of science and engineering happens on a farm: physics, soil science, hydrology, microbiology, and even psychology along with mechanical, electrical and civil engineering. Local John F. Kennedy University, an affiliate of the National University System, also plans to have students involved in the farm.
“The community support has been truly inspiring,” said Phinney. “It really underscores what can happen when people come together for the common good.”
In addition to the recent contributions, Tesoro has donated $15,000; PG&E has provided $7,500 in support, and Leigh E. Johnson (Trial Whisperer) has been an ongoing major individual donor. Community donations have exceeded $10,000; Phinney said. The Central Contra Costa Sanitary District is leasing the land to AgLantis for $1 per year and providing all the tertiary treated water it needs for the effort. Others donating services, funds, or materials include County Quarry (donating the road and pad for the greenhouse), and other in-kind donation from Republic Services, Davey Tree Service, and Discovery Homes. All of the labor for the last six years of developing this project has been donated. Another $100,000 is needed to fence the farm and equip the hydroponics greenhouse.
For more information:
www.salads4schools.org