Frequently Asked Questions
What is FARM Davis?
Over the last few decades, the nation’s funding to assist the homeless has plummeted. Many mental institutions in the 1980′s closed due to a lack of funding. Migrant workers are considered “illegal,” placing them into dangerous and vulnerable social and occupational situations. Environmental deregulation has increased.
In an effort to appeal to the culture of participation, positivity, and progress, we are building FARMs as a symbol of needed change. We are publicly and productively making our opinions heard in an attempt to influence culture—we’re just doing it in a voice that feels right to us. Some are calling this “slow protest.”
The FARMers donate half of the harvest, and eat the other half. It’s a true farm to fork movement.
Who can work at FARM? Who can eat from FARM?
Anyone can work and anyone can eat. We ask that you respect the FARMs and protect it, as you might do in your own treasured garden. Most FARMers are learning and we are always looking to teach and learn from each other.
Who do you donate the food to?
Currently we donate our harvests to a non-profit called Davis Community Meals (DCM) and Cesar Chavez Plaza (CCP) on a weekly basis. DCM prepares healthy meals three times a week out of St. Martin’s church off of Sycamore Drive in West Davis for anyone who is hungry. CCP is a low-income residence serving mostly formerly homeless people on Olive Drive in Central Davis.
How much food are you able to grow each year?
Each site grows different food and different amounts. Our FARM 2.6 site is the largest (2.6 acres, hence the name) and we care for a flock of chickens and over 70 fruit trees there which means we donate a lot of heavy fruit each week and eggs. The K Street FARM and Valdora Street FARM are both converted front yards. The mini-row crops include primarily veggies with a few fruit trees in the mix. We grow approximately 13,000 lbs of food each year total.
How do you afford to do this?
The land is donated. The tools are donated. The seeds are donated. The labor is donated. We mostly have day jobs to support our passion. We rely on the generosity of others to make this project work. If we have seeds, we plant. If we have wood, we build. If we have nothing, we connect over what we don’t have. FARM Davis operates on a gift economy which means that we build personal relationships through the exchange of a gift. We give food away to those who need it. Generous people help us to do that. It’s a great, big, happy circle of paying it forward.