Programs
Chef’s Special
A Youth Holistic Culinary Program
Already in it's second year, this after school program operates two days per week during the school year. Unity high youth ages 14-18 learn about social entrepreneurship through culinary arts and sustainable agriculture. They learn from OFC's teaching staff on how to prepare healthy whole foods.
Several days per week, student participants work in their community on various food service projects, demonstrating their "green" skills through food demos, farmers markets food booth sales, catering and more. Each summer, for example, this program includes in-depth cooking and nutrition classes, business classes, gardening and food system field trips to farms, bakeries, farmers markets, community gardens and restaurants.
Our mail priority with this evolving program is encourage more Unity High youth to take serious the notion what it means to have access to healthier food sources on their school campus and their surrounding community as a whole. By encourage creative, new and innovative ideas about food preparation to best prepare energy packed meals for their families and community members.
Unity High “Live”
A program on how to make an asphalt school ground come alive with urban agriculture and value-added products.
In this program, we work with Unity High in sustaining Unity's 18 garden bed food system. Much of the produce, herbs and flowers, for instance, are incorporated into Chef's Special. First and second year students use, human-powerd tools, such as handsaws, whereby third and fourth year students are trained on how to use electric tools. During this time students participate in a monthly education seminar through video, research and quest speakers on the links between environmental damage and our dependence on petroleum based products. Overall, students learn the value of independence, human power and sustainablility.
After our first planting year of 2005-2006, we harvested 75 ounds of produce!. This year, we have harvest over 100 pounds of produce, and it's only August! Student participants are encouraged to take food home to their families. Often is the case you will find student participants munching in a new favorite, lemon cucumbers. "They're just so good, man!", says Candido Santay, student participant.
During the 2007-08 school year, Unity high "Live" will expand Unity's garden bed system from 18 garden beds to 28. Moreover, we will build backyard gardens for three community members in need. Lifetime technical assistance is offered to garden recipients through OFC Membership, which includes seeds from our seed bank, soil amendments, garden maintenance services, compost delivery and more!
Volunteers for these programs are always welcome!
Please click on the volunteer link to submit an application.
All proceeds from all produce and value added-products are recycled back
into further expanding the breadth of our programs.
Paypal account not required to make a donation.
OFC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Oakland, CA.
To make a tax-deductable donation, please send us an email at
info@foodcommunitycullture.org or by mail to 1357 5th st. Suite B Oakland, CA 94607.
510-290-0520
Your support is greatly appreciated!!!