Publications & Accolades
LEAF Urban Garden is a USDA People's Garden
In June 2024, LEAF Urban Garden received the United States Department of Agriculture "The People's Garden" plaque for supporting a resilient, local food system. The criteria was to:
-
Grow using sustainable practices that benefit people and wildlife.
-
Teach about local, resilient food systems.
​​
2024 LEAF Earth Day
On Saturday, April 20th we celebrated Earth Day at the Fremont Downtown Event Center. The LEAF area had 19 booths and over 75 volunteers. It was an absolutely perfect spring day with temps in the low 70s with some wispy clouds, little breeze and no rain.
​
​LEAF's mission on Earth Day was to educate the community about how ALL of us can contribute to regenerating the land, and we accomplished that mission and more. Our booths were humming with conversations about sustainability and gardening. We were in environmental nerd heaven. Thanks to all the volunteers who shared their passion about sustaining our Earth by sharing their knowledge and also to those behind the scenes who prepared the collateral, the giveaways and prepped the booths. You all make a difference! Click here for pictures and more info.
​​
LEAF Earth Day made the Summer Edition of the Western Arborist. Walt Fujii, a certified arborist, hosted a very busy booth at Earth Day on Tree Pruning. Read all about it.
2024 Girl Scouts
Appreciation Award
LEAF received an appreciation award from the Coyote Hills Girl Scout Troop on May 20th for our 3 year collaboration on the Earth Day Recycling Program. This year the Girl Scouts collected 151 lbs of crayons, socks and bras that were distributed to organizations that embrace the circular economy so they won't be going into the landfill. The troop has committed to continue this partnership for our 2025 Earth Day.
FERC Open-Air Self-Care Community
Gardening Event
at the LEAF Center
FERC gathered for their Open-Air Self-Care Community Garden event at a the LEAF Center🪻
They spent the afternoon working in the garden, enjoying healthy snacks and drinks, and connecting with nature and with their beautiful community 🌞
City of Fremont
Age Well Center
Age-Friendly Fremont
April Issue
"Calling all Garden Enthusiasts,
LEAF is seeking Volunteers"
Compost Happens! in Alameda County
StopWaste just released a new video for Earth Day 2024, Compost Happens! in Alameda County.
Lori Caldwell speaks with various composters in Alameda County. You will meet Claudia, who composts in her backyard to create a beautiful garden, Joyce from LEAF who uses worms to compost food scraps in her apartment kitchen, Elaine from LEAF who composts at the LEAF Urban Garden to grow food for local banks, and Brian who makes compost on a large scale at his commercial facility from materials similar to what we put in our green bin.
​
Watch now at: https://youtu.be/Z3ez7qsRwV8?si=U0UoGBeJyKPrpr2E
Assemblymember Alex Lee 2024 Unsung Hero Awards
Assemblymember Alex Lee recognized Elaine and 24 other constituents in District 24 as his 2024 Unsung Heroes.
Elaine was selected for the following reasons: Elaine is a volunteer at LEAF Center and LEAF Urban Garden, which focuses on environmental education, regenerative agriculture, organic farming and community building. Elaine was instrumental in creating community gardens at the California Nursery Historical Park in Niles and the LEAF Urban Garden at the corner of
Mission Blvd. and Mowry Ave.
Tri-City Voice
"Uniting for a greener tomorrow: Youth4Good and Fremont LEAF"
News Article written by Olivia Ma, a member of the Youth4Good Volunteering Dept.
​
This article is about the collaboration between Youth4 Good, a volunteer group that serves low income communities, and LEAF. Youth4 Good helps coordinate the LEAF Second Saturday Volunteer Events.
Tri-City Voice
Jan 23, 2024 Vol 23 No 4
"LEAF is on the move"
News article written by Dan O’Donnell,
a fellow local gardener
This article is about our big move from the LEAF Stone Garden to the LEAF Urban Garden.
2023 LEAF
Earth Day Celebration
City of Fremont Earth Day Celebration
on April 22, 2023
captured on NBC Bay Area.
​
LEAF had 19 booths with 40+ enthusiastic volunteers answering questions and educating our community about how we can live a more sustainable life.
​
2022 Best of Fremont Award
LEAF was selected among the most impactful organizations in Fremont. This award recognized LEAF CR Stone Garden as the best of the best in the Community Garden category. We are honored to have been given this wonderful accolade.
The People's Garden
In Nov 2022, LEAF C.R. Stone Garden was given the accreditation of "The People's Garden" by the USDA. This is a government program that recognizes community gardens that exemplify the following.
​
-
Grow fresh, healthy food
-
Support a resilient, local food system
-
Teach people how to garden using sustainable practices
-
Nurture habitat for pollinators and wildlife
-
Serve as greenspace for neighbors to gather, reflect, and enjoy.
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
On July 23, 2022, we celebrated the completion of Phase One of the California Nursery Historical Park Master Plan with a Ribbon Cutting Celebration with City of Fremont Parks and Recs Community Service Director, Suzanne Wolf, Fremont Mayor Lily Mei, and Fremont's City Councilmembers. Lots of time and effort went into successfully renovating the 20 acre park which included the move of LEAF Center to the park's northeastern corner.
​
Excellence in Community Engagement
StopWaste, a public agency dedicated to reducing waste in Alameda County, has made a priority of recognizing businesses for the positive impact they have on their communities.
In June 2022, LEAF was recognized for its Excellence in Community Engagement! Amidst the wonderful compliments given us, the following areas of our mission were highly commended.
​
-
Food Insecurity
-
Community garden planter rentals
-
Donation harvests to 2 food banks
-
Fruit Tree Gleaning campaign, preventing food waste
-
-
Sustainable Living & Mindful Consumption​
-
Focus on composting, food, and plastic waste reduction
-
Earth Day Recycling campaigns, preventing textile waste
-
Regenerative agriculture practice and creative reuse
-
-
Community Education
-
Earth Day and other outreach events
-
Talkin’ Dirt online webinar
-
Mentoring Scouts and high school students
-