Aglantis

Causes: Environment, Food, Food Programs, Garden Clubs, Job Training, Natural Resources Conservation & Protection

Mission: ABOUT OUR SUSTAINABLE FARM​ ​The CoCo San Sustainable Farm which is a project of AgLantis TM, a 501c3 non-profit.  ​ QUADRUPLE BOTTOM LINE AgLantis is a California non-profit public benefit corporation,501c3. The work we are doing on the CoCo San Sustainable Farm has a quadruple bottom line – Food Equity, Education and Job Training, Environmental Protection and Economic Development.   PROBLEM & PROPOSED SOLUTION: FOOD EQUITY Food insecurity has dramatically increased, with hundreds of thousands in our county needing help. We provide free sustainably grown produce to schools, the food bank, and other non-profits that feed the poor. We currently grow produce on 1 out of 15 acres of public buffer land and soon we will build a high-tech AgraTech solar light greenhouse (144' X 42'), using recycled, agricultural-grade water, which is otherwise discharged into the Bay.  This recycled water is high in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and micronutrients providing free fertilizer.  Hence, we use under-utilized resources to nearly eliminate 4 of the major costs of food production: Land, Water, Nutrients and Transportation.  ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ HANDS-ON STEM EDUCATION & JOB TRAINING One of the goals of the farm is to educate.  Every aspect of science touches a farm such as physics, soil science, hydrology, meteorology, and nutrition.  We work with local schools and community colleges and other groups to provide students and the rest of the community hands-on opportunities to learn.  ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT and JOB TRAINING Classes on the farm provide job skills training that is relevant to local businesses including hands-on STEM, safety, measurement, and the 21st Century Employability Skills needed to succeed in the workplace. We mentor interns through the Workforce Investment Opportunity Act and other federal programs. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION The environment will also benefit because we are rebuilding barren soil, planting crops that sequester carbon and clean the air and increasing ground water.   ​ Nearly 1 trillion gallons of reclaimed water are discharged into the greater San Francisco Bay waterways each year. This water is high in nitrogen and phosphorus which are bad for the Bay, but great for agriculture, providing free fertilizer.  Recycled water is approved by the State of CA for organic agriculture. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ We have dramatically reduced the carbon footprint of this food by growing and delivering locally with natural fertilizer and other sustainable methods. In particular, we will be using regenerative agricultural methods which will increase organic matter in our soil and carbon sequestration in our soil. SCALABLE Sanitary districts in San Francisco Bay Area discharge as much as a trillion gallons of water in a year into the Bay waterways.  They also have thousands of acres of buffer land.  Our business model is scalable and once proven, can be replicated with other sanitary districts

Results: FOOD EQUITY: 25,000+ pounds of produced produced and 23,000+ pounds donated to the Food Bank of Contra Costa/Solano and other non-profits that serve those who are in need of food. EDUCATION: Hundreds attended classes on regenerative agriculture, drawdown, permaculture and more. Interns and volunteers learn hands-on and through teaching. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION: We have restored barren dirt to productive soil. We protect our Bay waterways by using recycled water that is high in nutrients, keeping it from being discharged into the Bay. We use and teach regenerative agricultural practices that sequester carbon in soil. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND JOB TRAINING: We have had a summer class for students and have taught interns who are youth finishing high school and supported by federal grants such as the Workforce Investment Opportunity Act Internship.

Target demographics: grow fresh produce to donate to Food Bank to feed those in need

Direct beneficiaries per year: We donated 10,000 pounds of produce from 1/4 acre, our first year. We are now donating about 1,000 pounds of fresh produce per week, from 1/2 acre. We have 15 acres to plant.

Geographic areas served: Martinez, CA Contra Costa County

Programs: 1) Food Equity: We grow fresh produce for charity; 2) Education: Hands-on science and engineering; 3) Environmental Protection: Regenerative agriculture organic without certification; 4) Economic Development and Job Training: Training local youth with internships.