Part of the excitement of starting at the seed level is seeing ideas evolve. In Teravana’s case, actual seeds have become bountiful crops, and educational concepts have become lesson plans.
Thanks to support from local and national organizations that believe in our gardens, forest and wildlife sanctuary, and accompanying outdoor education, Teravana is taking giant steps. We have received grants for the Living Learning Center from the Allen Foundation, Raley’s Purposeful Giving, the New Earth Foundation, and locally from the Russian River Rotary Club and the Community Foundation of Sonoma County.
All of the above supporters have been integral to our progress. One of these, the Allen Foundation in Midland, Michigan has a unique focus on nutrition: research, supporting women’s health, training folks on nutritional practices, and promoting healthful nutrition practices. From food security programs to schools to community centers and medical institutions, they have funded groups like Teravana with a link to nutrition since 1975.
Nutrition is at the forefront of lessons in the garden and how the food is grown. The Living Learning Center demonstrates the connection between healthy soil and healthy minds and bodies and practices multicultural and Indigenous agricultural techniques. For example, no-till gardening, catchment irrigation, crop rotation, seed saving, and tending to edible trees help ensure fresh, ecologically-grown produce.
Seeing the growth in the garden, from summer squash and zucchini to cucumbers, tomatoes, okra, amaranth, Hopi yellow bean, Rio Bavispe pinto bean, a variety of peppers, and watermelons the next step seemed clear. In collaboration with the Sonoma Environmental Education Collaborative, Teravana joined an amazing cohort of outdoor programs and Sonoma County schools. Watching the last four months develop, one might think the Allen Foundation and the Community Foundation of Sonoma County were working side by side: the former helping build and equip the garden and the latter providing access for local youth.
Recognizing what these five organizations see in us has helped Teravana find its path to the future. Now is a time to take a breath and acknowledge what’s happening. We know many foundations and donors don’t mind staying in the background, but we want to capture the present moment and celebrate with our supporters.
Guided by indigenous permaculture principles, reintroducing native habitat plant species specific to Cazadero and not using techniques like tillage, the garden is growing organic foods that will support healthy bodies and minds.
The garden was established under the shade and protection of a large black oak, a keystone species here at Teravana. All plantings are done with the guidance of the oak.