Coast Garden Leaders On The Rise!

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Eighteen Garden Leaders from thirteen gardens along the Mendocino Coast and Willits area gathered to network, learn from each other and build the movement for an accessible, sustainable food system!  The gardeners represented a great diversity of gardeners and communities within Mendocino County

Co-hosted by The Gardens Project of NCO and the Noyo Food Forest on the Coast, the goal of this three year program is to train community gardeners to share, organize, lead, and continue to build the movement for expanding and sustaining spaces for community and school gardens.

The Leadership Program is a component of NCO Community Action successfully receiving a USDA Community Food Projects grant to train community leaders in food production and work to alleviate poverty through re-building our local food system.

The group will meet every six weeks in Fort Bragg with each meeting focused on a different theme such as effective leadership, garden advocacy, market opportunities and growing community. Meetings are co-facilitated by Gardens Project coordinator Miles Gordon, Gardens Project and Noyo Food Forest staff.

This year's cohort represent the following gardens:Stone Soup Family Garden, Senior Kitchen Garden, Fort Bragg Grange Community Garden, Ecology Action Garden at Stanford Inn, Mendocino, Caspar Community Garden , Noyo Come-Unity Garden, Redwood School Rainbow Garden, Dana Grey School Garden, Fort Bragg Middle School Garden, The Learning Garden, Fort Bragg High School, Willits Charter High School Garden, Brookside School Farm, and the Willits Community Garden.

For more information about this year's Leadership Training, contact The Gardens Project or The Noyo Food Forest.

NFF'S New Executive Director!

The Noyo Food Forest is delighted to announce that our new Executive Director is Linda Pack. Linda comes with proven leadership skills and expertise in management gained from years of experience in local retail, public service and education.

Linda is well known in the community for her commitment to excellence. She was store Manager of Gallery Bookshop in Mendocino, Dirt Cheap in Fort Bragg, and was Artistic Director of Gloriana Musical Theatre from 1980 to 2000.

"I am proud to find such a dedicated group of people to work with," Linda said, referring to the Noyo Food Forest's Board of Directors, staff, and amazing volunteers. " It is a pleasure to see the fruits of your energy and efforts literally feeding and strengthening our community."

Welcome Linda!

Gardeners Unite

Noyo Come Unity Garden has three rental plots available for Fort Bragg community members, please call Katrina Aschenbrenner at 707-964-3979 or at katrina@mcn.org