Acta Non Verba

Acta Non Verba: Youth Urban Farm Project (ANV) elevates life in the inner-city by challenging oppressive dynamics and environments through urban farming. Founded and led mainly by women of color from the surrounding neighborhood and larger community, ANV creates a safe and creative outdoor space for children, youth, and families in East Oakland, CA. Within this severely economically depressed neighborhood in the nation’s second most dangerous city, ANV engages and deepens their understanding of nutrition, food production, and healthy living as well as strengthens their ties to the community.

Imagine a child who has never seen carrots in the ground or screams in fright at a worm. This is the reality of many children we work with. We design our camps, after-school program, and monthly farm days so youth experience nature in a safe space, playing, learning, creating, and accessing healthy, nature-based experiences that will empower them to be educated, well-rounded stewards.

Youth eat organically grown produce from the farm, gaining skills to help cook healthy meals at home. They engage in the arts, cultural programs like drumming, and outdoor activities like field games and swimming. Youth plan, plant, and harvest culturally-relevant food on the farm, stewarding local green spaces and gaining vocational skills as they market and sell produce. All profits are then deposited into participating youths’ educational savings accounts.