The Latest Endangered Species

by Greg Ellis

The latest endangered species — it's not a bug, a bear or a bird — is the farmer.  Farming is tough work with low pay and the average age of working farmers has been rising steadily with little recruitment of youth to take over the farm. 

There are a variety of trends behind the decline in new farmers, none of which I'll address here — see any of Micheal Pollan's books, or talk to the folks at Central Coast Grown.  With the decline in farmers come even more alarming trends: an increase in diet-related disease (see overweight and obesity trends) and a decline in natural systems that support soil health, water cycles, and clean air.  A healthy society, it seems, is built upon some of it's humblest members — farmers.

Many individuals and organizations have come to recognize the plight of the farmer and are beginning to address the root causes of their decline.  Nonprofit One Cool Earth, mainly focused on environmental education, sees farming not only as critical for growing our food, but also as a powerful teaching tool that can be used in school settings to address nutrition, exercise, and natural systems. 

Over the last year, One Cool Earth has worked with a group of volunteers, teachers, students, staff and administrators at Paso Robles' Flamson Middle School to bring about the realization of a dream — converting a barren lot next to the school into a thriving garden.  The garden aims to provide hands-on, curriculum-based activities while emphasizing environmental education and nutrition.  While this is just one small reply to the global farming crisis, it is a step in the right direction.

The garden site is simultaneously the best and worst possible location for a garden.  It is the best location — adjacent to the main school building for easy access and high visibility, at 6000 sq. ft. large enough to serve 700+ students, many of whom (over 50%) qualified for free or reduced cost meals and had an express need for nutrition education. 

At the same time, the site is the worst location for a garden: in the winter, shade from surrounding buildings covers the entire site most of the day; in the summer, the site bakes in direct sun, surrounded by asphalt and concrete which raise on-ground temperatures; the soil is extremely compacted after being used as the construction staging grounds to build the new middle school.

Last summer, after more than a year of planning, the project got a boost--a grant from the San Luis Obispo County Community Foundation's Janssen Foundation Youth and Youth Sports Fund.   The grant provides for building a tool shed, stage, seating, raised veggie beds and purchase garden tools.  A grant from the US Fish and Wildlife Service's School Yard Habitat program for a native plant garden to demonstrate drought-tolerant landscaping and educate about plants utilized by the native Chumash tribe soon followed.

A great deal of organizing followed--Principal Gene Miller lead the effort on the school's side--coordinating ground work.  Landscape designer Katy Deshotels-Moore of Healing Earth Designs and landscape architect Wensong Li worked hard to create plans for the site.  Teacher John Semenick lead his students in designing the garden, learning about native plants, watersheds, and indigenous culture in the process.

April 2013, the project finally broke ground with Engineers Without Borders from Cal Poly sending out a crew to install pathways and begin landscaping.

While our group has successfully mustered funding, materials, and designs, much of the actual installation remains.  Engineers Without Borders has helped in the critical first steps of installing the Chumash plant garden.  SLO County's gang prevention youth group, Youth In Action helped with an enormous portion of diggin and installing plants.  Cal Poly's WoW leaders helped as well.  During the month of July, we'll be holding a workshop to finish up our benches.  We are also in need of a tool shed--materials, labor, plans.  Please contact Greg Ellis, One Cool Earth, 760-382-5164, if you are interested in donating your time, money, or resource to the project.

Many other groups are working locally on the issue of looming declines in farmers, including Central Coast Grown, SLO Seed Exchange, and New Farmers of the Central Coast.

Remember to support the farmers we have who are also working to recruit and train their replacements: Cal Poly Organic Farm, Lov Organic Farm, Pozo Organic Farm, and Windrose Organic Farm

All content copyright Slo Coast Journal and Greg Ellis. Do not use without express written permission.