One of the first things we learn when studying the environment is that healthy ecosystems are rich in biodiversity, the amount of variety of life on Earth. Biodiversity is the number of different species of plants, animals, and microorganisms that are thriving in an ecosystem. (NASA, Exploring the Environment, Global Climate Change)  But, it is more than simply the number of species in an ecosystem that make it healthier and more resilient—what enhances ongoing, vibrancy, and resilience in an ecosystem are the connections and relationships between the species.

This also rings true with our organizational and community efforts for change. Food Justice Network's partnership with City Council for the Food Equity Initiative was built on the idea that we are more effective when we work together with multiple strategies, a diversity of partners, and intersecting issues. This Monday we presented to Charlottesville City Council the FY20 Food Equity Initiative report.  The report provides updates and equity measures for five areas of practice for a healthy and just food system—food access, healthy school foods, transportation and food pathways, affordable housing, and urban agriculture. The Food Equity Initiative report represents many partners working collaboratively. 

This spring, we launched as Cultivate Charlottesville, integrating our vision for a healthy and just food system personally through City Schoolyard Garden programs, in community through Urban Agriculture Collective farming and markets, and in systems and structures through Food Justice Network partners. We are excited to share with you Cultivate Charlottesville's first Impact Report (more details below). 

Partners - Connections - Relationships - Collaborations are all elements that build a healthy food justice 'eco'system in our organizations, in our community, and in our institutions. 

 Above text: A quote from Cultivate board member Audrey Oliver

Below text: Shantell & Jeanette share the Food Equity Initiative FY20 Report with Charlottesville City Council

 WE THANK YOU FOR GIVING THIS WINTER                    

Why I Support Cultivate Charlottesville by Rachael Boston, Cultivate Board of Directors Member

I’m so proud to be associated with Cultivate Charlottesville because it has definitely allowed us to cultivate our own love of growing, and I invite you and your family to make a donation during this winter giving season to help Cultivate grow in the new year and beyond.

 Clockwise from top left: Rachael and husband Marc help to prepare food for City Schools student meal distribution during the Labor Day holiday; One of their daughter's helps to harvest at the Johnson Elementary garden; a close up of the harvest in her hands; One of the Boston daughters watering in their home garden

 CITY SCHOOLYARD GARDEN                                            

A Visit to Ivy Creek and Riverview Farm by Hallie Goode

Hello! My name is Hallie! I am a food justice intern at Cultivate Charlottesville. Food justice interns are teenagers that care about the environment, food, farming, and the community. The main point of food justice is to learn more information about food insecurities and economic issues that stop people from having a good meal. We then try to share that information so more people know about the issue. To me, food justice is making sure that a meal is being served to our community each and every day. Being a food justice intern can really change your perspective about food and its meaning to people.

As interns, every Thursday afternoon we talked about food justice and dived deep into the concept. We have met with farmers and discussed what struggles there are. We have also talked about how we get our meals and the number of people that don’t get meals. Not having food can affect our bodies and mood. Before we took this trip I had been to the farm and a couple of other interns had too. We all read a little about the Carr family and their experience before going. I personally, had never known the history of the land.

Clockwise from top left: Hallie in the 6th Street garden; Ana and Hallie at Ivy Creek;

Signage at Ivy Creek; Interns pose for a picture at Ivy Creek

 URBAN AGRICULTURE COLLECTIVE                               

The Garden Farmer's Flight Check 

Taking time for rest is just as important as putting in time for work. Work is what makes resting restful, and rest is what makes work possible. Gardens need rest too. 

We’ve all seen those scenes in movies where the pilot and copilot of an aircraft execute a flight check to ensure that all systems are functioning properly for a safe flight. The UAC garden crew has a similar systems check that we’re using as we wind down the garden season.  

UVA Alpha Phi Omega volunteers help to ready the UAC 6th Street garden ready for winter

 FOOD JUSTICE NETWORK                                                 

FJN Team Updates from Shantell, Gabby, Tami, Selena, Jeanette & Daisy

FOOD SECURITY TEXT MESSAGE SERVICE

The Food Security Text Message Service is a food security response to reach individuals, families, households facing food insecurity during and beyond COVID-19. Since the onset of the pandemic, FJN has received feedback from residents that food resource information is confusing, overwhelming, and difficult to navigate with changing hours and programs due to the shutdown. The goal of the program is to create a direct communication avenue for residents navigating food access in and around Charlottesville as well as support for organizations changing hours of operation due to resource constraints. Keep a look out for the program to launch publicly in early 2021!

 FY20 IMPACT REPORT                                                       

In partnership with Dr. Maryfrances Porter of Partnerships for Strategic Impact, Cultivate is proud to present our FY20 Impact Report. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with our robust evaluation data and peek at pictures of our board & staff members, volunteers, and community partners. You can also access the report from the Cultivate website.

 CULTIVATE EVENTS                                                           

For more information or to join Food Justice Network full team meetings, contact Gabby Levet at gabby@cultivatecharlottesville.org

A hearty thanks to the Food Justice Network Planning Team Partners that worked together for this year's Food Equity Initiative. 

 CULTIVATE SOCIAL JUSTICE BOOK CLUB                    

Here are a few of the titles we are reading:

The "Thanksgiving Tribe" is Still Fighting for Food Sovereignty, Alexandra Talty, Civil Eats

Dismantling the Design Syllabus, Zach Mortice, Landscape Architecture Magazine 

The Racial Healing Handbook, Anneliese A. Singh

 CULTIVATE IN THE NEWS                                                 

UVA Today highlighted Cultivate Charlottesville in their article reminding people who work for state agencies such as the University that they can donate to nonprofits through the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC). You can support Cultivate's mission work through our CVC #200174 (new this year).

From all of us at Cultivate Charlottesville—a hearty thank you to the many new supporters that have pitched in to keep our work going to build food equity during COVID-19 and beyond.

At Cultivate Charlottesville we believe that working together to grow gardens, share food and power, and advocate for just systems cultivates a healthy community for all.