Imagine garden centers like these in every city, every neighborhood, and free community gardens, food forests on every corner. That could be a pretty radical change.
I had the exact idea put forward to one of my friend who could get us funds, but unfortunately, it didn't fit in any of the available options. I'm still hoping he finds a fir for the idea, and we can start asap.
Yeah, and don't depend on the government, do it on your own power, however modest or small. A few volunteers, a plot of land and a few seeds and your off.
I cried. This is so beautiful. Imagine replicating this model not just with people who were incarcerated but also homeless people. With foster kids, with any vulnerable human.
I thought this very thing. The typically ‘outcast’ in society, that most want to pretend don’t exist. Those that have suffered trauma and became isolated from society, in their effort to cope. To me, nature is the most gracious of healers!!
I live in Oakland and met a Planting Justice person at a grocery store. When I was looking for a permaculture plant that I couldn't find elsewhee, I found it at Planting Justice. Besides getting a quality plant that was difficult to find, I had the satisfaction of knowing that PJ was enabling people to really rehabililtate themselves. Being a gardener, I know that working with plants, touching the earth and watching plants grow is,, in itself, positive. In addition, PJ gives its workers the ability to earn a decent wage AND be treated with dignity.
My dream is to do something like this where I live in Canada. I'm currently running my own business, but not in agriculture. I'm getting there. One day it will happen.
@@user-rg7uz8of9r cuz they got their first chance when they lived their life normally got locked up felt like their life was taken away or something that why it probably felt like second chance
This project embodies the permaculture philosophy of "Earth Care, People Care and Fair Share" perfectly! Kudos to the originators of the project and to all the staff that made it thrive over its lifetime. Keep on growing!
You can't help but conclude that this is a far, far, FAR, cheaper way to reduce law enforcement and recidivism expenditure in ANY community, in ANY country. In a country such as the USA, that locks up more people than just about anywhere else on the planet, instead of public money effectively paying shareholders of private companies to run evermore & bigger institutional incarceration facilities, a much smaller fraction of that money could be imaginatively used for commercially viable Public, Private, Partnerships (PPP's), such as these, leaving more money in the pot for healthcare, education, and a myriad of other public services that are always desperately underfunded; literally millions of dollars.
@Iron Cynic Why? Sure, there are some that aren't well thought out or well run. But having been involved in a few, I know that they can be very beneficial.
But then where would they find the slave labour they make money from? American prison systems are not there to rehabilitate people, they function to provide a cheap disposable work force. It’s disgusting but that’s unfortunately the truth and thats what anyone is truely facing when they try to get government funding 😕
Andrew, Mitchell...y'all put so much love, intention, and care into this video, and it shows. This is probably the best video that anyone has done thus far on PJ...we are so grateful! y'all let the beauty of the organization, and its people, speak for itself, and in doing so, have provided an incredible gift to everyone featured here. Their children and loved ones will always have this to remember the courage, heart, and vision of their parents, who came through so much trauma and pain and separation, to then fight for beauty, their health and freedom, and the beauty, health, freedom and joy that their community deserves. The community leaders featured here, Otis Spikes (Nursery Manager), Sol Mercado (PJ's Re-Entry Coordinator), Covonne Page (Aquaponics Farm Manager), Gordon Limbrick (who's amazing track is featured at the end), Yennifer Flores (Propagation Manager) and her mom Adela Flores, Rachel Adriano, Simone Robinson, and Gavin Raders (PJ Cofounder) give so much of themselves every day to bring this dream into being. And we can't do it without y'alls support! Now 14 yrs in, we are really going for it right now! Right down the street from this nursery, on the same block just 100' over, PJ is building out a 3-acre incubator aquaponics farm that is intended to not only grow 150,000 lbs of organic produce/year, but also to open source the technology and help incubate a worker-owned cooperative that can scale this model across Oakland, and perhaps much further...to demonstrate how to grow healthy food and create good jobs on paved/toxic land that can't otherwise be farmed, and with 80% less water than in-ground growing. This work is literally a matter of our survival, individually and collectively. We're ALSO building out a pay-what-you-can cafe, community center, arts venue, retail nursery, farmers' market and commercial kitchen in El Sobrante (project is called The Good Table), just a mile from our 5-acre Mother Farm (where this nursery stock is grown out for propagation material)....so with so many big projects on our plate, we REALLY appreciate y'alls love and support! You can find out lots more about our organization and these projects at www.plantingjustice.org and www.plantingjustice.net Lastly, it has been so incredibly heartwarming to read everyone's comments here. To see people from Oakland and the Bay commenting on how they have been touched by PJ in the past, to hearing from customers around the country who have purchased their organic permaculture plants from us and to hear that they are thriving, to supporters from around the world sharing such beautiful affirmations and prayers with us....this means more to us than you know! Deep humble gratitude and thanks! If y'all ever come to the area, please do visit us in person at 319 105th Avenue in Sobrante Park, deep East Oakland!!!! We can't wait to work with Andrew and Mitchell again as these new projects come to fruition. Blessings on y'alls work friends....you are not only incredible teachers and craftspeople, but genuinely sweet, generous, and kind people...thank you!
Thank you for this! Not only do I absolutely adore permaculture, but I also look for people and places to support that do amazing work like this! I’m gonna add some nursery plants to my cart right now, and go home and make a sandwich with Dave’s Killer Bread to boot. ❤
@plantingjustice we all need what you are doing so much! I feel so heartened to learn about your work, and I do hope you catalyze thousands more all around the country and the world.
I'm 10 minutes away in San leandro I never knew this existed! I garden every year always looking for the most diverse nursery and wow now I can help support something that will better my community. So glad I saw this
I have ordered plants from Planting Justice every year! I have a little urban food forest in Massachusetts. The plants from this nursery are beautiful, well packed, and travel across the country in great condition! Every single plant I have ordered is doing well. To know that the plants started with love and healing, that they were part of changing lives, building community…. ❤❤❤ THANK YOU PLANTING JUSTICE!!!!
THIS!!!! THIS THIS THIS!!!!! This is what permaculture and getting back to Mother Earth is all about. You can't get better than this!!! Every video I have watched of yours has consistently emphasized COMMUNITY & BELONGING. Perfect. Just perfect!!!! We need to get this beautiful message to explode across the US and other 'developed' countries. Thank you.
This is one reason why we order our plants from this nursery all the way from TN! We have to encourage this beautiful vision and one way to do it is to vote with our boots. We choose to support those who support others in the best possible way!
Wow, this is amazing and inspiring! I live in California but haven't heard of PJ. I'll have to go visit next time I'm in the Bay. I'm also flabbergasted that a nursery could support almost 60 employees! This is great. We need to adopt this here in the Central Valley, where we have about 20 of the state's 45 or so correctional facilities, and it's agricultural land. "Freedom is by design."
We featured the nursery but they have about 5 different interconnected businesses so the 55 full time employees is a little misleading. They are also providing landscaping services and have other farm related projects on multiple properties
I cried watching this, it's such a moving and important program. Especially hearing what kind of food is sold in poor, undeserved areas. There is hope! Thank you for making us aware of this program and allowing folks to work and HEAL. Justice!
Wow. When I was searching for a specific variety of Cornelian cherry, I ordered it from Planting Justice. I had no idea. Beautiful plant, now thriving here in New England. Will never look at it the same way again.
Oh man, I've been there! I live in San Mateo (sort of), and went accross the bay in search of some special plants. I think I was really looking for specimens of Hardy Kiwi (Kiwi Berry). I ended up finding some, I think, but can't remember. Also got some "Honey Berry" plants, and one "Orange Muscat Grape" or something like that. They propagate A LOT over there, and have a fairly extensive and unique/special selection of plants, especially fruiting plants! I did not know, or maybe heard but it didn't sink in or I didn't realize just HOW supportive they are of formerly incarcerated people. AMAZING, YES, and BEAUTIFUL. We need so much more of this kind of support and activity in this world. Thank you Planting Justice, may all of your efforts benefit all around you, and may more and more of us find ourselves supported by, and participating in, supportive activities like this.
This is an amazing Work It needs to be adopted, scaled and replicated on a greater level. I look forward to working with this project and Planting Justice ❤
So great to see. There used to be another program called The Garden Project of San Francisco that operated for 30+ years. They worked out of the San Bruno Jail employing at risk youth and ex offenders. They grew organic vegetables at the farm on jail property which were given out to the community, and had a native nursery. They contracted with the PUC doing conservation work in the watershed. I’m happy the Planting Justice program is available as a resource for the community still. Nothing like getting your hands in the earth for healing.
Whenever I even get the sense that my anxiety is gonna spike, I come to videos like this, inspiring and hopeful. I hope this sets an example for the country.
Great video. Gave me some ideas. can have my own mini plant nursery. I'm 76, Puerto Rican and live in Minnesota in the middle of nowhere. Due to a grandfather clause that I invoked, I was allowed to have a mini farm/wildlife habitat in the middle of town. (Previous owner had a mini-farm going back to the Great Depression era.) I have multiple types of fruits, so all I need is to learn the best way to propagate them. Then sell them at the farmer's market. Always looking forward to Andrew's videos.
I'm local and lucky to be able to buy some hard to find permaculture plants AND support people who are trying to get their lives back by fostering nature. I've always said that so much healing can take place once we get back to the natural world and Planting Justice is proof of that. Thanks PJ for everything you do!
The "politicians throwing money at the problem" line was the perfect contrast to this concept. This is not a complicated operation, yet it's so effective and fruitful for all involved - even the buyers of these plants. I 100% support this effort.
so.. solving two issues at the same time producing a win win situation. the idea of the permaculture nursery is itself brilliant. the idea of helping people when they really needed it is an add on bonus
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing their story. These people are inspiring and it goes to show what can happen when you put people first. Livable wages, happy employees, happy families. Keep up the good work to the whole crew out there!
Hands down amazing. This company appreciates, values and wants to see its employees thrive and win. Its giving the employees so much more than a job. Wow.
I have ordered many plants from this organization and they are growing great! I would love to see this program duplicated in other places in the country.
I’m so glad to see this. I used to tattoo in East Oakland years ago and always wondered why there weren’t more farms in empty lots. I thought that the people in this city would benefit from contact in nature. It softens anyone’s hard edges and brings them back to the essence of living. Great job! I think a good idea also would to take kids camping and learn basic outdoor skills
I've always said this is the solution. Love this so much. There would be no prison system/prison business. People need purpose and rehabilitation out of trauma from existing in the hood. All the best to these guys 👏🏽❤️💯
This is amazing. $25 per hour plus benefits for the families. And it’s incredibly rewarding work. And like the dude says if they drop a bomb, he knows how to grow his own food. Bravo 👏 🙏
Tht was absolutely 💯 beautiful...and the way to go...I live in Sacramento...and been growing food for 5yrs...and I'm hooked...the wonderful things that can come from growing food....AND TIS IS ONE OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS...im definitely going there to support ...1 PEOPLE...1 MIND....1 ❤️ LOVE....1 NATION......1
Great video Andrew. 2000 thumbs up. Makes me think about how I could use my organic farm to help those in need of direction. Keep up the good work, both you and the people on the nursery in this video :)
I LOVE YOU ALL soooo much!! Your sharing an amazing lesson that humanity needs to remember....the earth is our mother and has given us all we need to live and love. Food is freedom ❤ I'm super happy for you all! Thank you!
I've started recommending your videos to everyone I know, I think your content should be mandatory. You've taught me so much about water, permaculture and living, and I love all the other topics you cover too! Like this one 🪴
The best video I've seen on Planting Justice. Clear, simple, and powerful. This is a model to move society forward in the most compassionate and thoughtful way possible. The PJ spokespeople are incredible ambassadors for this model. Well done, Andrew.
Order from PJ, you won’t regret it! Love, love, love Planting Justice. Stumbled across them a number of years ago and what a great organization all around. I’d so much rather my $ go towards supporting them than a big corporation. Plant orders arrive well grown, healthy and extremely well packaged.
This program sounds absolutely INCREDIBLE!!! I hope that it can help set a standard by so clearly demonstrating that when given the opportunity to make a legal, decent living wage, and given the support needed, recidivism (reincarceration) drastically decreases. Not to mention they’re simultaneously helping to promote food security and sharing their knowledge and skills throughout their community! This project is genuinely doing SO MUCH good for not only their nursury staff themselves, but their families and the community they live in. It’s absolutely stunning and I am so happy to have seen this. ❤ Thank you for spreading awareness of this project! Definitely going to find some way to support this in the hope that other cities will catch on!!!!
Fabulous. Planting Justice re-grows lives. Thank you for sharing this amazing story. Every aspect is one of encouragement. Living wage work! Setting an example for others to follow. Blessings
It's not just about healing the nature, it works on those who participated in this activity and makes them feel appreciated and have a sense of achievement.
This Permaculture nursery project provides healing not just for the planet Earth but also for human beings working there. This is so impressive. God bless you all. 🤟🥰😇🙏
Brilliant. Growing fruit trees & loving options for people. I’m inspired to create an Oregon homestead. Thank y’all for educating me. Time to buy land & get shovels in soil. People deserve options.
I got my package from Planting Justice in the mail the day this was uploaded! 2 honeyberry varieties, sea kale, and hablitzia. Their selection is amazing and their cause legendary. Love them and what they're doing.
Did you hear that: “only 1 person out of 75 formerly incarcerated staff has gone back to prison on a new charge in 14 years of Planting Justice. (...) that’s like less than a 2 percent recidivism rate compared to that 60 percent in the State of California of people going back.” In other words, by putting nature and people back at the center of our so-called modern societies, we have the great opportunity to rebuild a new society on human values that really make sense and that are closer to what we could call happiness.
This project is so amazing! Compassion in action. Our society needs this so badly, now more than ever. Hopefully politicians from across the country will look at this as a template for use in their communities. 🙏
It is blessed that there are people who care and help people like this. I think it's messed up that EVERY person who goes to jail in the US it's treated as punishment, and there is no rehabilitation or effort to grow peoples skills so they can get a good job when they get out. You're in there for a decade and you come out unhireable, why wouldn't you just go back to doing crime? Imagine if you came out with several years of carpentry experience, or culinary experience, or being able to solder electronics? They do this in other countries, and nearly nobody ever goes back to jail.
Turning negative into positive thank you for being brave enough to embrace the perspective of better things to come and manifesting a beautiful idea into your beautiful reality. So proud of the accomplishment
I am so proud to be someone who has donated to Planting Justice for years. I truly believe in the empowerment of the community to enable the betterment of future generations and to give people an opportunity to have pride in what they do. This is amazing work, and I strongly encourage folks to donate. Love this! We can break the cycle and become stronger together!
so sweet of you! Really, your support means the world to us! If you wouldn't mind reviewing us on google or yelp, that would be wonderful. We so appreciate you spreading the word!
@@amillison sometimes charitable organizations have such steep prices it’s hard to justify the expense or donation. I was pleasantly surprised. Great interview. ❤❤❤
Andrew, you are aware, I look forward to meeting you sometime, you are an inspiration for me and when I will have my permaculture ready I’ll send you a thank you or something.
Brilliant PJ family making real change in the world! I wish I had an opportunity to learn from a PJ Center here in PA. Huge applause to everyone for your hard work, positive attitude and sharing with the world! 👏 🎉🎉🎉🥳🥳
People helping people, and letting nature help people, while providing nurturing food plants that help for other people, the way God designed us all to be. The two greatest commandments, Love God, and love one another. Kudos to Andrew and all of the employees who have made this such a success story,, it shows the transformation of their hearts, minds, and bodies. It is a beautiful thing to see.
This is an awesome project. Good job on every person that has worked in rebuilding themselves🎉🎉 The reason why these pple are healthier ad happier is because of working with soil, constantly touching the earth grounds you, and repairs your body, especially your brain.
