Fall Volunteer Day, Rain Catchment Skillshare, CDFA Grants
Greetings from Agroecology Commons!
We're here to tell you about some exciting events we have coming up these next few months! We’ve got a Volunteer day on October 22nd from 10am-4pm. Our team could use some support with turning over beds and hedgerow care. We are moving into cover cropping and garlic planting for the cold season.
On November 8th, we’ll be hosting a Farmer to Farmer Skillshare on Rain Catchment and Watershed Care, in collaboration with Urban Tilth’s Watershed Restoration Field Crew. This Farmer-to-Farmer Skillshare will introduce key concepts in watershed care including verticality vs. horizontality of water movement, spring and aquifer recharge, and relationship-based restoration
There is still time to apply for a CDFA grant! These grants, funded through a partnership with CDFA’s Office of Farm to Fork, are designed to strengthen local food systems, preserve cultural foodways, and support growers facing displacement and other land access barriers. Applications close November 15th!
How can farmers and land stewards deepen our relationship with water and restore the ecological balance of our watersheds? In this hands-on Skillshare, we’ll explore how shifting from “fast water” to “slow water” practices can nourish both land and community.
Traditional city and farm water systems are designed to move water away quickly, “get it out” , leading to erosion, sedimentation in creeks, and the loss of precious topsoil. Together, we’ll reimagine water management through the lens of relationship and reciprocity, focusing on how to slow it, spread it, and sink it.
This Farmer-to-Farmer Skillshare will introduce key concepts in watershed care facilitated by Urban Tilth’s Watershed Restoration Field Crew, including verticality vs. horizontality of water movement, spring and aquifer recharge, and relationship-based restoration. We’ll actively work on practices that enhance infiltration, increase native plant communities, and improve access to creeks for all beings who depend on them.
We’ll also engage in a hands-on rainwater catchment build led by Mauricio Rivera, who combines expertise in civil and agricultural engineering with a deep commitment to regenerative systems. Together, we’ll learn practical methods for capturing, storing, and redistributing rainwater to support farm resilience and ecosystem health, exploring how these practices advance both ecological restoration and environmental justice.
We invite farmers, land stewards, and community members to join us for this free Farmer-to-Farmer Skillshare hosted by Agroecology Commons. Lunch will be provided.
Urban Agriculture Seed Grants: Applications Opened September 12!
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our 2025 Urban Agriculture Seed Grants Program! As of Friday, September 12th, Queer/Trans and BIPOC growers in the Bay Area can apply for funding up to $20,000 to support innovative, community-driven farming projects. This funding is intended to affirm the brilliance and leadership of urban farmers who grow food not only for sustenance, but for sanctuary, resistance, and liberation.
