Family Harvest Farm

Welcome to Family Harvest Farm, a new program of the John Muir Land Trust. Once a vacant lot in a densely populated neighborhood, this 3.5-acre parcel in Pittsburg, California is being repurposed into a thriving organic farm. The farm broke ground in Summer 2020. Its mission: to empower youth and adults to discover and participate in a local food system that encourages healthy living, nurtures the environment, and feeds the community.

Family Harvest Farm employs transition-age foster youth in a hands-on job-readiness program, teaching marketable skills and preparing them for life outside the foster care system. Volunteers work alongside our apprentices in an outdoor and collaborative setting. In addition to growing organic produce, the farm hosts educational workshops for the greater community.

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Young woman shoveling soil in an open field, preparing for planting.

No-till farming minimizes soil disturbance, which keeps organic material in the soil while enriching biodiversity and reducing the need for greenhouse emitting chemical fertilizers. Photo: Adam Weidenbach

Young man preparing field rows for planting

Apprentices do it all. They perform farm work, propagate seeds, plant and harvest crops, and prepare and deliver food. Photo: Adam Weidenbach

FOSTERING RESILIENCE AND GOOD HEALTH

Family Harvest Farm is an innovative solution to the unique issues encountered by transition age youth in the current system. It is a community that recognizes healthy living requires a foundation of affordable, high quality food. Work on the farm is structured with a strong family dynamic—clearly defined roles and routines, mutual support, nurturing mentorship, opportunities to teach and learn from each other, and the satisfaction of contributing to the achievement of larger group goals.

When fully operational, Family Harvest Farm will specialize in organic vegetables and flowers. Produce will be sold at farmers markets and to institutional buyers such as nearby restaurants, hospitals and school cafeterias. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) subscriptions will be offered at affordable prices. Food will be donated to those who need it.

We are actively seeking individual and institutional funds to build and install farm infrastructure and open more apprentice positions. Your gift supports state-of-the-art farming practices. Regenerative agriculture reduces carbon emissions, increases biodiversity, and improves soil quality while building water resilience and nutrient density. The farm’s approach envisions everything—people, animals, plants, compost and the surrounding environment—working together.

Family Harvest Farm Features

	Provides employment opportunities, job skills and career development for transition age youth with experience in the foster care system
	Utilizes farming practices that reduce carbon emissions, while increasing biodiversity
	Hosts workshops for school groups and the general public on nutrition and environmental education
	Repurposes vacant urban land to improve our quality of life
	Provides affordable, fresh produce to the community through direct sales, CSA boxes, and donations to those in need
	Creates a nurturing environment where everyone has the opportunity to thrive

Get Involved

Farm Volunteers

Volunteers are an integral part of the farm. Working alongside apprentices, volunteers help grow organic produce, pull weeds, plant seeds, shovel mulch, and assist with other daily farm tasks. See volunteer opportunities!