In 2013 the CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE Riverside team began work with the Community Settlement Association in Riverside through a community grant that funded garden reinvigorating. During the pandemic, all produce harvested from the garden has been donated to the local food pantry. Garden Club activity occurs twice a month and enhances educational work in the community.
Our work with Riverside Faith Temple began in 2018. Food harvested from Riverside Faith Temple community garden is donated to parishioners and community members. Our team has continued to host monthly virtual garden club meetings in partnership with the UC Master Gardener program in Riverside County. We plan to resume in-person garden activities this winter.
Since 2013 CalFresh Healthy Living, UCCE Riverside has fostered a growing relationship with the Torres Martinez Tribal Community in Thermal. Based on this long-standing relationship, in 2020 the CFHL, UCCE Riverside team worked with a group youth and seniors from the Tribal community to establish a garden at their senior center. This community garden brought elders and youth together to plant and harvest fresh vegetables and herbs. As an inter-generational project, it was a great success. Since that time our team, with support from the CFHL State Office, has assisted Tribal Leadership in establishing a Community Wellness Committee which consists of youth, elders, and tribal council members. We are working with this committee to inspire initiatives that will lead to sustain health outcomes through PA, garden enhanced nutrition education, direct education, and other activities.