Volunteered through my company at Veggielution! The farm box packing event started right on time at 9:30am. I appreciated how Veggielution has posted videos showing how and where to enter the property. Staff explained the instructions thoroughly and handed out gloves. It was a hot day so I was thankful that the event was under a shed and the food packing itself was straightforward and not very strenuous. We filled the boxes with fruits and vegetables assembly line style and then stacked them all up. With our big group, we finished packing 725 produce boxes in about 90 minutes. Some of us also helped remove weeds around the shed using hands + shovels. At the end, one of the employees gave us a guided tour of the farm which was super fun! He talked about the different events they host - on Saturdays there is a Farmer's Market and youth garden for little kids. The farm is huge, so it was cool to look around and learn about their farming practices. Also learned that they offer low-cost fruits and vegetables to the community! Staff was very friendly and efficient! They provided us with all the necessary tools. There were some leftover fruits and vegetables, and volunteers were allowed to take them home which was super nice! Overall, I would definitely volunteer at Veggielution again. Their website is up to date with helpful information which makes the whole volunteer process very easy to navigate. They also host interesting community events that I would recommend checking out! read more

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Did a volunteer event here and I absolutely fell in love with the livelihood of this cut place. The team working there were really nice as friendly, they offered different activities too! I saw a Zumba class at the end of my volunteer shift. There's also kids garden where kids get to experience gardening. Btw, the Veggielution is in the back of the parking lot, so just keep driving to the back until you see more chickens and farm stand. read more

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I signed up a few days ago on their website for the Saturday 10-12:30 shift and volunteered at Veggielution this morning. I typed Veggielution into Google Maps which took me to a street that was blocked off. I would recommend mapping to Emma Prusch Farm instead and following the signs pointing to Veggielution. I've always been interested in farming and growing my own fruits and vegetables and this helped me picture how that might look. Instead of getting a gym membership, I might just start volunteering here more regularly because it was a work out! For the first hour, I hand pulled weeds out of the ground. We then had a fruit break where I ate the tastiest cold pomelo. For the second hour I chose to switch to the other task which was using a weed puller tool to pull out weeds by the cacti. I don't know if I have the skills to be successful in farming based on today but I definitely had a lot of fun doing it and challenging myself to try something new! read more

I LOVE VEGGIELUTION! There's freaking peacocks roaming this place!! I am still shook by this. You have the 101 ramp In the background and there's these peacocks just walking around like it's no body's business!! So cool! I love coming here for their first Saturdays. It's where they have outdoor yoga, cooking classes, art in the garden, the farmers market and volunteer activities in the garden! They are always planting new crops and harvesting them so it's super fun to help out. Then you can sit and have a community lunch where the crops your harvested were used to cook the lunch! It's very kid and family friendly so I always take my nieces here. They love doing the art in the garden activities. I however love harvesting!! We came to volunteer one time and we harvested lettuces! I've never grown lettuce or let alone harvest one so it was a very cool experience to learn! I always enjoy their community lunch. I get to try new recipe and meet amazing people! It's so great to have this space for our community! read more

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Went here as a part of my jobs volunteer opportunities program. We had a blast packing veggie boxes. Staff was super welcoming and gave clear instructions. It felt truly nice to help. The place itself is beautiful. Can't wait to go back. read more

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It's good to be a Yelper. They once again opened the doors to Veggielution for me. I'm super excited to volunteer some more. It's outside. It's active. It gives back to the community. That's why. Oh yeah! You get a good upper body work out from using this tool called the Hula Hoe. This hoe was perfect for removing weeds. Never met a hoe that's good with weeds. This hoe is loose but useful. Just saying... Lol! I know I'm immature. I wasn't born this way. Environment, friends and sometimes volunteer work like this one. Can you say Nature Vs Nurture? So much fun. I also did sweat a lot! That's why I'm going back. I'd rather be out there than in an office volunteer typing. Never met a resistant green called Dino Kale. This was rooted deep. I've seen a few volunteer saying hi to the fertile soil with their cheeky buttocks. All in fun! Made a few friends. Tried to introduce myself to a rooster-denied. Stopped to admire a showy peacock. Was introduced to a bug and was told we can end its existence because it brings nothing but harm. Glanced at a lady bug who's mother nature's assassin for the greater good. So far my experience was outstanding! Large parking lot. So no sweat off my back. Tip: Don't forget to sign in and out. Or check in and out. Some of you need your hours and that's the only legit way to track it! If you're not registered you're never there! You only fill out the long form in the computer once. Next time you're there it'll just be your name! Dress properly. As in no booty shorts. Disgusting! Boots are the best bet for your dogs. Go meet a hoe! I did! read more

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I had a ton of fun volunteering today for Yelp Helps at Veggielution! I dropped in and after checking in and grabbing gloves and a tool I started off weeding. Which, may I say was a lot more fun than I thought it would be. My group then switched to planting and trimming and then I jumped groups to mulch and weed a bit more ;) Everyone was incredibly friendly and the potluck was an extra sweet bonus! I especially enjoyed the cute farm market where they sold the items they grew! The lavender was seriously temping, though I ended up going for some green onion. I would definitely come back to volunteer! It was a fantastic experience! read more

Veggielution - Farmers Market Near Me - San Jose, California

I don't really have any other organic garden experiences to compare this to, but from what I've seen, they run a tight ship. I went here for a YelpHelp event and pulled some weeds and mulched a bit before getting a tour of the place, which was quite impressive. I love their European style of irrigating and transplanting, where the crops are kept in small cubes of soil. Very cool. Most all their work is done by volunteers who are free to take crops home after helping in the fields. Additionally, despite the people there seeming to have to a lot of experience, they weren't mean or rude, which is more than I could say if a gaggle of yelpers came by and started prodding and snapping photos of everything haha. Anyway, a great farm, a great mission, and a fantastic staff. I might be back even without Yelp one day :-) read more

Veggielution - Soil cubes. Way cool. - Farmers Market Near Me - San Jose, California

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Urban gardens and farms do exist and it is wonderful. Located in Emma Prusch Park this mini farm last year provided 4,000 pounds of deliciousness to local shelters. It started with some college students who learned that the land where Emma Prusch is at was purchased for educational farming.. and unused for 40 years... update now and they have an acre which holds tons of different plants as well as a pumpkin patch in the works.. all organic.. all done by locals... it is a thing of beauty. Many of our students had not seen a peacock up close before and this farm has several chilling on the roofs and walking around. Yesterday we had our students go out and farm for a few hours as community service/for our week of field trips. Shout out to Cody and the other Veggielution squad for being so patient with our students. Between the other chaperone and our students we weeded, helped put down hoses for their water system, picked dead flowers, worked in the green house and washed some of the produce. Although it was only three hours the students were tired by the end (even more so when we walked back to school LOL). They also have a Veggie youth organization as well as programs for families to farm in order to get food. This is a great opportunity for families to work along side each other, as well as an excellent place to get community service hours. All of that information is on their website. NOTE: in order for teens to work they do need to sign a waiver While we were there they gave us some fennel, green onions and fava beans to take home!! Big Ups to urban farms esp. Veggielution!! read more

Veggielution - beautiful flowers! - Farmers Market Near Me - San Jose, California

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I've brought my god children and nieces to Emma Prusch Farm Park many times and we all enjoy the open space and the animals on site. I knew about the adjacent farm but never had the chance to look closer. When Yelp Helps had a volunteering event here at Veggielution, I jumped at the first chance. The day was warm and the work was physical. Our task was to pull weeds from the aisles of vegetables. I sweated big time. Nonetheless, I still say it was rewarding. It was nice to be able to help out a lovely community farm. The non-profit has a lot going on and any help is definitely appreciated. The experience is good for kids and city folk to see how food goes from farm to table. Moreover, I got to work along side some like-minded fellow Yelpers. Even though I couldn't attend the post-volunteering Prom event because of a scheduling conflict, I felt good helping. read more

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This place made a convert out of me. Seriously. I have never forgiven myself for neglecting a long overdue review on Veggielution when this place changed my life. First and foremost, this place is beautiful. The people and the place with all its greenery gives off that "harmonious with nature" vibe that if you're into it, with bit of hard labour, your day of volunteer work won't just be productive but also personally gratifying. It was my first time, May 2014, to visit the place. Taking my daughter with me, I met up with my friend, her daughter and her mom and drove to this place. We went to the youth garden and was given an overview about the place, the tasks we have to do and the invite to join the pot luck during lunch if we wished to stick around. Well, I need to let you know that I used to view myself as a plant killer. I liked looking at plants and can name some of them but I didnt try to take care of them or water them because if I do, they die(unintentionally - of course!). However, things changed when I came to this place. They taught me how enjoyable it is to help things grow which triggered the green thumb in me. By the end of the day, I brought with me 3 artichoke hearts, a cherry tomato plant and another ornamental plant to bring home. FYI, the cherry tomato plant is STILL ALIVE AND BEARING FRUITS! A year after, I have a variety of plants growing and sprouting. I am now a proud veggie grower and a compost maker. I loved coming here. It changed me a lot. I would love to come back...I will, I promise I will. TIP: If you have an abundance of food you would like to share and don't want to do the gardening, they would warmly welcome you to join the lunch preparation with your food donation. read more

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This place is absolutely fantastic. We came here for a Yelp Helps event and I could not be happier. They are a full run organic and sustainable farm. When you go and volunteer they have a variety of tasks that you can help with and then there is a lunch and an opportunity to take some of the produce which was harvested. You can e-mail them and ask for a date for a group to come and help. Seriously, this place is fantastic. Where else in San Jose is there a full organic and sustainable farm that you can go and volunteer? It is quite a sight, you have this wonderful farm next to the freeway and you are just lost in this wonderful place. The farm will sell their organic produce at extremely low prices to families in need and will donate the rest to other non-profit organizations. They also do children and family groups where they help promote the idea of healthy living and the benefits of growing your own produce. When you are there you can tell there is some serious devotion to the farm and the volunteers are super friendly. This place has a very chill vibe, full of people who care about the environment, care about giving back to the community, care about the world we live in, care about each other, and want to help educate this and future generations. I will definitely be coming back with a group to do more work! read more

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I've volunteered here a few times now, and it's always a great experience. They put you to work, that's for sure, but somehow it's the right amount of labor, learning, and sunshine (or I've just gotten lucky with weather). At the heart of everything is community. That's what makes this place so special. Also it's a cute little farm WITH PEACOCKS located in an urban environment aka literally underneath a freeway passing. That contrast makes it even cooler in my book. Consider it a tiny oasis where fruits and vegetables grow to the sound of cars zooming by (or cars stuck in traffic, depending on the time of day). Check out their website for not only volunteers ops but also great events highlighting local makers and so much more. read more

I had the opportunity to volunteer with this organization. What a great community resource! Not only do they have family gardens, but they sponsor a farmers market as well. I helped to pick citrus fruit from a neighborhood family who was willing to donate to Veggielution. After volunteering - I received an email that stated how many pounds we had gathered and to which places / groups this fruit would go. I can't wait to learn more about this organization - and it's super easy to get to! You may have even driven past it many times on 680! read more

How can one NOT love volunteering, let alone volunteering at a farm?! Beats me. I had so much FUN back in March when I came here for the first time. That time it was for a Yelp Event, this time it was just for kicks and giggles. It's always such a nice experience here because the staff behind Veggielution is so nice. It's not only a great way to give back to the community, but also to meet new people, joke from time to time, and help each other. Plus, if the weather is nice, even better!! Give it a try!! For those who also need community service hours i.e. College & High School students, come here!! read more

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- An Urban farm in a middle of a large city that is not run by some mega conglomerate or the government. - A community that is willing to teach you bout farming - A farm that practices organic farming - A local farm where you can actually buy the products - An opportunity for today's youth to volunteer and gain some sort of experience All of the above! What a great place and a great concept. This place is a hidden gem on the notorious East side of San Jose. If you do decide to volunteer here, be prepared to get dirty. Veggielution is a real farm. One small tip, bring your own gardening gloves...especially if you are a germaphobe. read more

This is a great place that strives to bring healthy produce back onto the tables of those who are hungry in the community. It is run by an awesome staff (many of who are Americorps volunteers) who are enthusiastic about the environment and seek to teach their volunteers a thing or two (or a lot) about environmental stewardship. I have been taking groups of students here for many years, to volunteer on Saturday mornings. They finish every Saturday morning with a community potluck. Yum! They are also very gracious in providing fresh vegetables from the gardens for volunteers to take home with them too. Parking is easy, their mission and vision is on point, and my students always have a great time during their visits. Who knew gardening could be so therapeutic? See you in the fields! read more

A somewhat hidden gem located in the darker side of San Jose. I went here yesterday for the Yelp Helps event, and it was a great experience. Aside from meeting various Yelpers for the first time, I was able to get down and dirty by digging up weeds, manually pulling out "giant" plants from the ground, and planting new vegetables. I wasn't sure what to expect at first, but I'm glad I went, and I plan to go again in the future. After we worked in the garden, the entire group met for a potluck lunch. A big shout out goes to the people who made the cornbread in the cupcake holders and the kale salad, both dishes were delicious! Also, aside from the Veggielution farm, there's a giant park in front of the farm where you can hold birthday parties in a safe environment, so that's a plus. read more

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You know you've reached a farm when you start seeing chickens in the parking lot. I attended a volunteering opportunity here for Yelp Helps and I had a lot of fun doing various gardening exercises, such as shifting giant piles of compost and putting on mulch around the newly planted fruit trees. They also have a smaller vegetable garden for kids. The gardens were very well kept and organized and the staff are very friendly and knowledgeable. The potluck at the end of the shift was a great way to meet some of your fellow volunteers. Bonus is being able to take home some of the vegetables from the community garden. It was definitely a rewarding experience that was both educational and gave a great workout, fun for all ages. read more

Veggilution is now a staple of community service, agricultural education and inclusion in San Jose area. When I moved here end of 2014 I was looking for a place like this where I could volunteer from time to time if i wanted to, attend cooking classes, yoga events, just go and see butterflies and hug trees while checking the fruits and veggies grown by others and just enjoy some shopping at the stand as well. You get all that at Veggilution. And it is so pretty, well maintain and volunteers and staff are wonderful people. Great service to the community. There should be moree veggilutions around, the city will be nicer and greener. read more

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Veggielution is an urban community farm located inside of Emma Prusch Park, near 680 and King. They grow all kinds of vegetables on their giant farm, which they sell at affordable prices and also donate to low-income members of the community. They are also about educating the community about sustainable farming practices and eating healthy. It's a great organization and I was told that it started out as a college project. I think that's amazing that it started out as a school project and has since grown into a successful nonprofit community farm. I've volunteered at several of the Saturday farm workdays with Veggielution. It's fun and a great way to help out. I've come out to help on my own, with friends, and also once through Yelp Helps (last year). Every time I've come out, I've done something different - it just depends on what types of things they need done that day. The first time I volunteered, they had me trellis lemon cucumbers. Because the leaves of lemon cucumbers get so big (like zucchini leaves), they start to cover up the cucumbers and block them from getting sunlight. So by trellising the leaves, or tying them up with twine, both the leaves and cucumbers can get sunlight and continue to grow. Another time I volunteered, they had me weed. The last time I came to help, they put me to work in the greenhouse, which was really cool. I got to see all the baby plants that were sprouting and it was cute! They had me help in "stepping up" the plants, in which we took the small plants out of the planter boxes and moved them into bigger pots with soil, so that they had more room to grow. We worked with Chinese broccoli and red cabbage plants. After we moved them into the greenhouse, we watered the newly stepped up plants with water that was mixed with fish fertilizer! Another great thing is that the Veggielution employees explain why you're doing the task and why the plants need it or why it's important. After the Saturday morning workday is over, there is a potluck lunch - volunteers are asked to bring something relatively healthy (they ask you to leave the junk food at home, although I've seen people bring cookies and cake) or contribute a few dollars. The pot luck is pretty awesome. There's usually a few dishes that are made with vegetables from Veggielution's farm, like salads or a vegetable stew. There's a kitchen on the farm, so that's where they prepare and cook the food. People just bring a variety of things, from chips and salsa, hummus, fried rice, spaghetti, chicken enchiladas, mashed potatoes, etc. The pot luck is pretty fun and a nice way to end the workday. They use reusable plates and utensils, which you wash after you're done eating at their washing station. Another awesome thing about volunteering at the workdays is that volunteers get to take home some veggies. They bring out some veggies to the picnic tables where the pot luck is. Each time I've come, there's been different veggies - one time I took home some kale, another time I took home some fava bean leaves, another time I took home a starter plant for I think cauliflower. It's a really nice way to thank the volunteers for helping out! And the veggies taste so good! Straight from the farm! And if you want more veggies, they sell some of their produce, near the entrance of Veggielution, where their offices and volunteer check-in are. Last time I went, they were selling dino kale! There's also a hen house with a lot of fluffy chickens. There are also peacocks roaming around the farm and park, and they are so regal-looking. We could hear them squawking away while we worked. There is a restroom. Volunteering here is a fun and a great way to give some of your time to a great cause. You don't have to do know anything about farming or gardening. They explain to you what you need to do and they're usually pretty simple things. And you don't have to sign up in advance or anything. You can just show up and sign-in. You could literally wake up at 9am on Saturday and decide to go to volunteer at 10am. Just don't forget to bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and a water bottle (they have a water cooler things in their kitchen), since you could be working out in the sun. read more

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I volunteered here as part of Yelp Helps and it was a great event! It was so neat to see how this community farm works and how people like me can help out. Plucking weeds from green onion patches and shoveling more weeds in the orchards was exhausting but fun! They have a potluck for all the helpers at the end which is a great way to relax and get to know your fellow volunteers. Highly suggest coming here to volunteer if you are in the area! read more

I have a friend who lives nearby this farm at the intersection of King and Story, but for years I had no idea WTHeck it was. My friend +1'd me for the volunteer + potluck Yelp event here a couple of weeks back. There were A LOT of groups helping out that day; I was excited to take my green-thumb out for some exercise, but it seemed like the Yelp group got assigned to pull weeds. No big deal, I still had a lot of fun! Ava helped us get started and we just yanked weeds for a few hours before washes up for lunch :). everyone gathers up for community announcements, food gets brought out, and it's a big feast. All the dishes brought were healthy, sustainable, and very very good. I can't stress this enough! At the end of the day, you'll be happy you did a great deed and got free food. read more

Came as a Girl Scout troop for the cooking class. Very organized and educational for all ages. They have a great little kids garden area where they can water, pick veggies and other activities. They have adult activists well like meditation. Free food truck for those participating in activities around the area. The grounds are so clean with a large picnic area. Great experience all around. read more

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If you come here, really be ready to get your hands dirty, meet great people who care about what they're doing, and learn about gardening. I started the day by replanting some wildflowers which attract native bugs to pollinate the crops, then moved on to maintaining/refilling the compost bins (.. yuk, but for a good cause?), made some dirt squares for planting seeds in, and tilled some soil. At the end there was a delicious potluck where you can sit down and chat with all the people who worked alongside you. The volunteers were a mix of people who just wanted to try something new, people who have volunteered for years, and lots of students getting community service credit. It's a beautiful place, with good people, where you can get closer to the earth and do some meaningful work. read more

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Community meets farmer, meets service, meets kids, meets potluck. What started out as a Yelp Helps gathering will potentially turn out to be a regular volunteer opportunity for me. Work on the farm, learn about how to grow food organically and share a meal with volunteers. I'm not scared of hard work. It's not for everyone, but I love it. From the Hen House to the orchard, to the Kids Garden, Veggielution is an awesome place. Call me old-fashioned, but I love to be outdoors helping contribute to a good cause. read more

We did our promotion day volunteer event at veggielution on a Friday morning. We helped trim the orchard and harvest and clean the veggies (beets, onions, kale) for a Saturday farmers market. At noon, we were provided lunch made from fresh veggies picked from the farm: chicken & cheese coleslaw and garbanzo beet soup. Glad that we are able to give back to the community by lending a few hours of our time. read more

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I mentor a teenager through Big Brothers Big Sisters and we decided to come here for one of our outings, because my Little Sister really likes animals. This is an "urban farm" near the 280 freeway with lots of plants and animals. The website advertised a Youth Gardening program on Saturday from 10AM to 12:30, but I couldn't figure out how to sign up so we just showed up. The program is not very formal and Jasmin the garden manager showed us around, gave us tools (and gloves and hats) and assigned a couple of tasks for us. We pruned and tied tomato plants and I thought it was pretty fun! The website said that there would be activities with animals so we asked Jason the farm manager if we could go look at the chickens. He showed us around the chicken coop area and even let my Little Sister pick up 2 eggs from the coop (they were still warm!). Even though the program did not have a lot of structure, we really enjoyed the flexibility and everyone who worked there was incredibly helpful and nice! There is also a farm animal exhibit area near the park where you can look at pigs, goats, chickens, ducks, a goose and a rabbit. Bring a quarter (25c) to buy animal feed if you want to feed them! read more

I volunteered for the Yelp Helps potluck at Veggielution and had a great time meeting fellow Yelpers as well as help out do a good deed. I'll admit, I'm lazy to take care of my own plants, but Veggielution grows plants all for great causes. It's all about the education for young kids as well as the ability to help out local low-income families with organic produce. I was only there for a few hours, but it was great to get my hands dirty by pulling weeds from the green onion area. I wish I could've taken a before/after picture because it felt good to see all the weeds pulled and just the green onions standing. Sorta like a sense of accomplishment. We were given a tour of the farm and given a little backstory of the place, which I learned a lot about the organization. If someone is intersted in doing some fun volunteer work, I highly recommend Veggielution! read more

Where else can you go in San Jose where a peacock will walk right by you not giving a f***? The moment you step onto the farm you soak in the community vibe and know this place is the real deal. Yes, you'll probably get sweaty after a couple of hours but at the end of the day (or shift) the work you put in was well worth the effort. The vegetables you get to take home is a pretty good bonus, too. My knowledge of farming goes about as far as watering the basil plant inside my kitchen so it's really refreshing to be surrounded by passionate Veggielution employees who know their shit (literally) and are eager to educate. I wouldn't mind putting in some time here every once and a while because it's so rewarding. It's no surprise one trip here turns visitors into volunteers for life. Ultimately Veggielution is making San Jose a better place read more

I used to live out in the country. I pretty much had to go four-by'ing in order to make it up the private dirt road to our house. The crows of the roosters and the moos of the cows would visit my ears each morning. There were what seemed like an endless supply of ranch cats, some sassy goats, and always plants to tend for from our well water. Now? I'm a city slicker, tearing it up in downtown San Jose. I miss the country life and don't have much room for gardening at home, aside from the seasonal basil plant in the kitchen window. Veggielution is a wonderful outlet for people like me. People who don't have the room or knowledge to farm produce from home. People who want to get their fingers down in the dirt and see life happen and pluck vegetables from the garden. People who want to learn how to live off the grid and help out their community. Veggielution does all this and more. They have many outreach and education programs. They have vegan potlucks on Saturdays. They have art in the garden once a month. Not only do they teach people how to grow and be self-sufficient. They also provide a large amount of donated food to less privileged families in our county. They have six beautiful acres with some free roaming chicks and the farm goose, Emily. And they also have a little produce stand at the front of the farm where you can purchase some goods. It's really quite a refreshing way to spend a couple hours each week. Come check it out. read more

A community farm situated between two freeways, gives suburban and urban dwellers a taste of home grown food that comes from the same land that you get stuck under your fingernails when you planted the seeds. I ain't just talking bout the taste of the food in your mouth but the taste of community, service, and environmental sustainability. Mission I spent a workday years ago when the farm was less than a quarter of the size it is today. The farm has grown in many ways, in its appearance, its production, its programs, but there's one thing that has stayed consistent, and that is its mission. It has and will continue to strive for a more environmentally sustainable, just, community orientated, local, inclusive, educational, power empowered, and dirt-y future. What you can do They have workdays for most days out of the week where people can come in and get dirty. You get experience growing food, you meet many new people, have very interesting conversations, get some physical exercise, get community service hours if you need it, and if you make it on Saturdays, you can participate in the potluck at lunch time. They also have youth programs where kids can learn to garden and see the chickens. You can also come to the farm stand on Saturdays to get low cost produce grown from the farm. They have art time on the first Saturdays of the month when you can come and get creative. You can sign up for farm boxes of seasonal vegetables grown from the farm which you pick up each week. (CSA box yeah!) You should go No matter your age, ethnicity, income, or physical ability you should check out this place to see what its about. Its good for your health and your community. read more

5 stars for the mission: working to provide sustainable healthy food for the community, and it's very important to understand where our food comes from. 2 stars for the workday volunteer program. The people leading it don't seem to appreciate the people who turn out to work. The attitude should be welcoming and enthusiastic; instead, they come off as uninspired and above the whole thing. Their attitude prevented me from coming back to volunteer long term. read more

I just started today and I LOOOOVE it!! I'm as city as you get; getting my hands dirty would have sounded abominable to me in the past... until, yanno, curiosity got the better of me. Although I did the "unglamorous" job of weeding and thinning out beet plants, I enjoyed chatting my teammates and getting to know who they are. There are some pretty strange people working in this farm! :P Saturdays are great because of the lunch potluck, which features delicious stir-fried, grilled, stewed, and roasted seasonal veggies along with bread or quinoa or dessert or whatever anyone decides to bring. People wash their own dishes at a station, too. Surprisingly I came back for seconds and snuck in thirds (though there's little left by then!); I expected to mostly skip the meal. Yummy!! What's more--you get to bring home vegetables! Boxes are filled with carrots, kale, radishes, etc. for volunteers to take home. After the potluck I was inspired to eat healthy, too. They're quite generous and I love the community feel of Veggielution. read more

This place is good, very, very good...and GOOD for you in every sense of the term too!! Everything about it!! Its a non-profit community garden that serves the area in a myriad of ways (check out their wonderful website for a full description.) This will be the second season that my son, daughter-in-law and I have taken advantage of their weekly Farm Box program. Once a week, for a very reasonable fee, from May through November, we are surprised and amazed by the freshest of what's in season, all organically grown, all ready to go and become the most mouth-watering meal ever. Each week's box is a veritable cornucopia of nature's bounty . I "met" produce that I'd never before known as well as welcoming back old friends. I found that my repertoire of recipes expanded ten fold; I found that I honed some "tried and trued" dishes too. And all modesty aside, I think I can now claim the title of Pesto Queen!! Their basil sets the gold standard (and it grows in abundance for most of the season), so I had ample time to perfect my pesto making skills. I could go on and on, but what you really need to do is check out the place for yourself. Go on line. Go there!! Sign up for the Farm Box program. Volunteer. Donate. The possibilities are endless; the rewards are beyond compare. read more

Anyone that knows me will tell you that I'm one of the least outdoorsy people out there. Dirt and bugs kinda scare me and though I've always wanted to have my own garden I have a major a black thumb. However I've always been fascinated by sustainable food systems and community gardens. How can you not love a beautiful garden with a great mission! Veggielution is an oasis surrounded by freeways and the urban landscape. The size of the farm is quite impressive! They have a youth garden, beautiful orchard, fields of veggies, beehives and more. The staff members are incredibly nice! Mark and Lydia were so nice, super knowledgable and truly passionate about what they do. If you're looking to learn more about gardening or volunteer for a great cause, definitely check out Veggielution. They also have a farm box program and free cooking classes. *Their honey and plum jam are ridiculously amazing. Thanks Lydia! read more

++++ Produce +++++ Volunteer Experience +++++ Awesome way to give back to community and make new friends - Really hot in the summer, but plenty of breaks read more

It's community farm for everyone. The staff and volunteers are nice. I volunteer to help my community, meet friends, and have fun. It is a great experience to be a part of this legacy in the middle of San Jose. The farm is expanding and it is exciting to see more people. I learn to work collectively, while I inform others about the history of the farm and its goal. There are many tasks to do at the farm: removing weeds, planting seeds, weighing vegetables and more. You can decide on what you want to do a the farm. read more

Veggielution is such a great place. I came here to volunteer every Sunday with a couple of my girlfriends and did I mention that this is GREAT PLACE? You can just show up and volunteer. You can help out in the fields or the youth garden or in the kitchens. There is a real sense of community here and you feel so accepted. Everyone is just so nice, especially the staff members. I have yet to buy something from the farmstand but I have taken home produce from the volunteer box. The boxes are either a hit or miss, b/c most of the good produce goes to farmer markets. However, there are beautiful tomatoes (a variety of them), squash, peppers, etc. There are also chickens that i've enjoyed feeding. There's also a potluck at 12:30 on Saturdays and the food is always really good. Please go check out Veggielution! Go volunteer, apply for a job, or check out the farmstand. The farm has been grown a lot within the past few years and it's still continuing to grow. I can't wait to see how great this farm will be a few years down the road. read more

amazing place to volunteer!!! You can learn how to farm, help make a difference in our community! Come out to the farm and see their happy chickens and hens:) read more