We are excited to share our new project with all of you! This year Costanoa Commons is raising $100,000 to build a barn. The barn will give us space to store produce, eggs, and flowers, as well as prepare herbal products. It will be a welcoming place for our staff and volunteers to build friendships and learn new skills.
As we ramp up to full farm production and produce sales, we are determined to create a welcoming environment where young adults like Thomas and Noah can find meaningful and enjoyable job opportunities.
#GivingTuesday is November 28th. We hope your generosity will allow us to #RaisetheBarn!
Here’s what you can do:
Donate now! You don’t need to wait until #GivingTuesday.
Volunteers from San Francisco, Kris, Yesenia, Claire, Ross, Shawnon, Evan, Sydney, from left to right, and Ted (kneeling), pose with Heidi (center) after working on the farm.
When Donna Calame, a board member of Costanoa Commons, Inc., told her son, Ross, that we needed some help pounding posts for deer fencing on the farm, he got to work. Ross, an aspiring firefighter who doesn’t shy away from hard physical work, rounded up an energetic group of his friends and drove down to Santa Cruz.
These San Francisco volunteers worked one long, hot summer day pounding t-posts across the length of our field, while also installing weed mat beneath the fence line. These busy young professionals, each working to build careers and a future for themselves, not only worked hard that day, but have planned several of their own volunteer “blasts” since then… arriving from the city ready to do whatever is needed to get our farm to the next level.
They believe in our vision and have generous hearts. We are fortunate to expand our farm’s circle of support with these young people who are not shy about getting down and dirty on the farm to help people with disabilities find a place of welcome, continuous learning, and meaningful work. We hope you can hear us all the way to San Francisco when we say, “Thank you, Ross and friends!”
Movin’ ’n’ groovin’ on the farm
Part of our mission at Costanoa Commons is to build relationships between people with developmental disabilities and the surrounding community. When Raul Rekow Jr. of Santa Cruz Supported Living met with “Building for Generations” following one of their “big jam” percussion circles, Raul had the idea to bring drumming and percussion fun to our farm.
Raul, shown in the middle in photo above right, organized our first such event on a beautiful day in October. Tam Sugayan, a professional musician and all around great guy is shown in the black T shirt in the photo above left. Tam led the group with his expertise and gentle patience.
About 25 people participated. Congas, dejembes, bongos, and other drums rang out across the farm as beginning drummers tried different rhythm patterns. Taking a break after the first session, Raul’s family also put on a delicious BBQ lunch! Everyone had a great time, so we’ve asked Raul to please come back and bring his drumming magic to our farm regularly.
Thanks for feeding our bodies and our spirits, Raul! You embody the best of our mission and we thank you and your wonderful family and friends for keeping that steady beat and sharing your talents with us.
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