Every Single Load makes a Difference
- From Elaine, LEAF President -
LEAF has had an exciting and productive 2024! We broke ground on our new 1-acre Urban Garden that will push forward our mission to develop a thriving garden for food donations, education, and community. We began preparing the land this fall and will continue throughout the winter so we can begin planting next spring. Yes, you're right, this is a stretch goal given that there are large objects to move, swaths of Bermuda grass to rip out, mulch and compost to rake in, and cover crops to sow all by the end of this year. I believe our amazing LEAF Volunteer Powered A-Team can do it. GO-A-Team!!!
As you are planning your donations at the end of the year, we would love to be considered. Your donations would support our mission to offer workshops and hands-on classes to rebuild our earth from beneath the ground and to grow fresh fruit and veggies for those in our community who could benefit from healthy produce.
Donation of $5 provides organic seeds and plants for our gardens.
Donation of $25 provides gloves and hand pruners for our volunteers to harvest produce.
Donation of $100 provides power tools (chain saw, table saw, electric sander) to build wood slab benches and tables for our outdoor classrooms. BTW, all the wood was donated by local companies who mill it instead of chipping it into wood mulch.
Donation of $1,000 could purchase a LEAF lifetime membership. Here is the direct link to purchase one from our shop.
Donations of $2,500 plus would go toward a mini tractor that would be used to help cultivate our land so we can have more time to grow more plants, to educate our friends and neighbors, to engage in more community mural art projects, and to sponsor more student and scout projects.
Any amount you can give is greatly appreciated.
At LEAF, we work year-round to feed our community by planting, nurturing, and harvesting fresh produce that we donate to our local food banks Tri-City Volunteers and Centro De Servicios.
We have already passed our 2024 GOAL of 4500 lbs. YAY!
YTD Produce Donations: 5,296 lbs of fruits and veggies, the equivalent of 4,413 meals according to the USDA.
Medfly Quarantine Update
CDFA (California Department of Food and Agriculture) issued an official notice on Oct 14, 2024, stating that seven adult Medflies were trapped in Fremont and concluded that an infestation of Medfly exists in the area, so a quarantine was put in place. The quarantine is valid until July 19, 2025 which is the length of time for three life cycles of the Medfly treatment protocol. CDFA is employing biological (sterile male flies) and chemical controls (foliar baits near detection sites) as the primary controls, and secondarily physical control with fruit removal. The quarantine now encompasses Fremont, Newark, Union City, Milpitas, and Sunol.
LEAF will comply with the quarantine through July 19, 2025
In 2025, we will grow fruits and veggies that are not included in quarantine. So tomatoes, peppers and eggplants are out and new varieties of onions, brassicas, leafy greens, legumes, cucumbers, summer and winter squashes, melons and herbs are in. How fun ; )
We will not donate quarantined tree fruits and veggies from our gardens to the food banks, friends or neighbors
We will not accept gleaned fruit (i.e, pomegranates, persimmons and all citrus) from our community
Tiny tidbits about the Medfly:
Insect native to Africa and has appeared in several continents, including Europe, Australia, Central and South Americas
Discovered in Hawaii in 1910
Infests in over 250 different types of fruits, nuts and veggies
Damage occurs in the fruit when the female lays eggs and they hatch into larvae that tunnel through the flesh of the fruit
In 2021, the combined gross production value in California that could be affected by the Medfly was over $17.94 billion
In the news
LEAF Talkin' Dirt from your home
An online meeting series for you to chat about gardening with others from your home on the first Wednesday of each month from 7 to 8 pm. Join experienced gardeners for an online gathering. We'd love to have you regardless of your gardening experience.
Next online gatherings are Wednesdays, Dec 4th and Jan 8th.
We have fresh wildflower raw honey and worms to sell. Honey and worm sales fund their room and board ; )
Raw Honey: $20 for a pint jar, $10 for 1/2 pint, $8 for 1/4 pint
Composting Worms: $20 for a small plastic container
Purchase at our LEAF Shop.
Gleaned Fruit Program on HOLD
Fruit donations are not accepted at this time due to the medfly quarantine that will be in place until July 19, 2025.
More info at fremontleaf.org/glean
Have questions? Email us at info@fremontleaf.org
LEAF volunteers are needed on the 2nd Saturday of every month from 9 am to Noon to help us tackle projects that benefit from a group effort. These volunteer hours count towards the high school community service hours requirement.
Be a part of a community helping a community.
We also have projects that will qualify for Eagle Scout and Gold Projects.
Our next volunteer days are: Saturday Dec 14th and Jan 11th
More info at fremontleaf.org/volunteer
Please hit the donate button if you feel aligned with our mission so we can continue to develop spaces to educate our community, build healthy soil, and provide food for those most in need.
Any amount you can give is greatly appreciated.
We also accept checks. Payable to LEAF at PO Box 2816, Fremont CA 94536.
©2023 Local Ecology and Agriculture Fremont (LEAF)
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