La Semilla Food Center

TO FOSTER A HEALTHY, SELF-RELIANT, FAIR, AND SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEM IN THE PASO DEL NORTE REGION.

COMMUNITY EDUCATION - THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL CLASSES AND MENTORING OPPORTUNITIES TO THE AREA YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE LINKS AMONG FOOD, GROWING FOOD, HEALTH, LOCAL ECONOMIES, EQUITY, FAIRNESS, AND SELF-DETERMINATION. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO TRAINS COMMUNITY LEADERS TO LEAD GARDEN AND COOKING WORKSHOPS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES THROUGH LA COSECHA. RAICES - EACH YEAR THE CENTER ENGAGES MORE THAN 35 YOUTH IN INTENSIVE FOOD PRODUCTION AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING AT LA SEMILLA COMMUNITY FARM THROUGH MULTIPLE SESSIONS OF THIS INTENSIVE, SEMESTER-LONG COURSE. UPON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE RAICES PROGRAM, YOUTH ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THE FOOD & FARM APPRENTICESHIPS. YOUTH SELECTED FOR THE COURSE ARE PROVIDED AN EDUCATIONAL STIPEND TO COMPENSATE THEM FOR THEIR TIME AND WORK. THERE WAS A TOTAL OF 637 PARTICIPANTS, 96 FARM FRESH KITS, 10 CAMP ACTIVITIES KITS, AND 14 RECEIPT INGREDIENT KITS IN 2021.

EDIBLE EDUCATION - EMPOWERS STUDENTS TO UNDERSTAND HOW FOOD IS GROWN, CONSUMED, AND IMPACTS OUR PERSONAL, COMMUNITY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. LA SEMILLA SUPPORTS SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS WITH THE SUPPLIES, TRAINING, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO ENSURE THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL. WE CURRENTLY OFFER EDIBLE EDUCATION AT 11 PARTNER SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE LAS CRUCES, GADSDEN, AND EL PASO SCHOOL DISTRICTS. IN 2021, THERE WERE 12 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS AND APPROXIMATELY 2,118 STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM. SCHOOL GARDEN EDUCATION - LA SEMILLA INSTALLS RAISED GARDEN BEDS AT THE SCHOOLS IN THE FALL SO THAT THEY ARE READY FOR PLANTING IN JANUARY. STUDENTS WILL ENGAGE WITH EVERY STEP OF THE SEED TO TABLE PROCESS, FROM PREPARING SOIL TO PLANTING SEEDS TO HARVESTING AND EATING VEGETABLES, ENDING IN COMPOSTING FOOD SCRAPS TO RETURN NUTRIENTS TO THE SOIL. COOKING NUTRITION EDUCATION - PARTNER SCHOOLS RECEIVE A COMPLETE COOKING KIT THAT INCLUDES CUTTING BOARDS, KNIVES, MIXING BOWLS, MEASURING SPOONS, A SALAD SPINNER, GRATERS, PEELERS, AND OTHER TOOLS TO PREPARE BASIC FRESH- PREP RECIPES RIGHT IN THE CLASSROOM. AFTER A SCHOOL COMPLETES THE 3-YEAR EDIBLE EDUCATION PROGRAM, THE COOKING KIT REMAINS AT THE SCHOOL FOR FUTURE USE. STUDENTS ALSO PREPARE FARM BXES. IN 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR, THE EDIBLE EDUCATION PROGRAM PROVIDED 12 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS TO 115 DIFFERENT TEACHERS FROM 29 SCHOOLS IN 3 SCHOOL DISTRICTS (LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS, GADSDEN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND EL PASO PUBLIC SCHOOLS) AND 3 CHARTER SCHOOLS IN THE REGION, DELIVERED 465 FARM BOXES OVER THE SCHOOL YEAR WITH 2,985 LBS. OF LOCAL PRODUCE FOR IN-CLASS COOKING LESSONS AND HOSTED 7 FAMILY COOKING NIGHTS AT LOCAL SCHOOLS.

FARM FRESH MOBILE MARKET - CONNECTS FARMERS TO LOCAL FARMERS' MARKETS, RESTAURANTS, STORES, AND INSTITUTIONS. FARMERS' MARKET - LA SEMILLA HAS PARTNERED WITH AREA FARMERS' MARKETS TO HELP RECRUIT FARMERS, CONDUCT TRAININGS, PROMOTE THE USE OF SNAP BENEFITS, AND PROVIDE COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING. PARTNER FARMERS SELL THEIR PRODUCTS THROUGH THE CENTER'S MOBILE FARMERS' MARKET.

COMMUNITY FARM - THE FARM IS USED TO ENGAGE CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES IN GROWING FOOD AND LEARNING ABOUT WHERE FOOD COMES FROM. IN 2021, THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 4 WORKSHOPS HOSTED, 114 PARTICIPANTS, AND APPROXIMATELY 2,689 POUNDS OF FOOD WAS HARVESTED. REAL FOOD APPRENTICESHIP - THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES INTENSIVE EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AT THE COMMUNITY FARM. APPRENTICES ENGAGE IN LONG-TERM MENTORSHIP, EDUCATION, AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT. THE CENTER HOSTS 2 TO 4 APPRENTICES AT ANY GIVEN TIME, BASED ON INTEREST, STAFF CAPACITY, AND THE AVILABILITY OF FUNDING. THEY ARE PROVIDED A STIPEND TO SUPPORT THEIR EFFORTS. SUMMER & SPRING BREAK CAMPS - ALLOW CHILDREN TO LEARN ABOUT FARMING. IN 2021, THE FARM PRODUCED APPROXIMATELY 3,696 POUNDS OF PRODUCE AND HOSTED 12 WORKSHOPS. FOOD PLANNING & POLICY - ENSURING THAT GOOD FOOD IS GIVEN PROPER CONSIDERATION IN PUBLIC COMPREHENSIVE AND STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESSES. THE CENTER FACILITATES COALITIONS LIKE THE MESILLA VALLEY FOOD POLICY COUNCIL THAT ADVOCATE FOR PUBLIC POLICIES AND PLANNING STRATEGIES THAT PROMOTE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO GOOD FOOD FOR ALL PEOPLE.