Since the late 1990s, JoLynn and Joe DiGrazia of Turlock’s Westside Ministries, the faith-based organization offering social and education opportunities to local youth in need, have long had a strong focus on agriculture. Both have been in the farm-rich Central Valley for decades while Joe has been a longtime high school agriculture teacher, most recently being inducted into the California Agricultural Teachers' Association Hall of Fame.
It’s no surprise that they have transformed part of the organization’s property on 950 Columbia Street into a luscious garden, accompanied with small barns to accompany animals like chickens. The operation is a way for children to learn about the industry, how to cook with the food, and offers an opportunity to raise money for the organization. They call themselves the Ghetto Gardeners.
“It’s a full-blown garden in the middle of the hood,” JoLynn said. “Many of these kids in the westside neighborhoods, it’s hard on them. They’re dealing with so much. This is an underserved neighborhood with over 80% of the people living below the poverty level, this is a place for them to escape and learn tools that they can use in their lives as they get older.”
As far as vegetables go, the farm features 30 varieties of tomatoes and peppers, about 20 varieties of squash, another eight types of pumpkins, four types of corn and a number of fruit trees. The produce is grown, picked and packaged by the children, who either learn to make meals with them or sell them in assorted boxes to fundraise for the organization.
There are also around 30 flowers, which many times are made into assortments to sell. And in some corners, there is space housing chickens and other small animals that participating children raise to show and sell at the Stanislaus County Fair.
“Most of what we grow is for the fair, because the main thing that kids do is that they show and they make money by putting in exhibits,” DiGrazia said. “It’s so, so important because not only does it give them something to do, but it makes them money. A lot of these kids have trouble getting jobs. And they could really use the money, whether it’s for school supplies or other things they need to get by.”
Some have even used money raised to buy a much-needed car.
For many of the kids, they had never had an interest in agriculture prior to coming to Westside Ministries. But there was a clear consensus about their passion for gardening, cooking and fundraising — they love it.
In the summer, Westside Ministries serves around 20 to 30 kids who help in the garden. During the school year, that number can grow to over 300.
“I want the kids to be outside and interact with the soil,” DiGrazia said. “There have been studies that show that kids that garden, that actually touching dirt increases your ability to learn and retain. I don't know how true it is, but I certainly believe it. It changes your whole outlook. I've had kids that are really emotionally disturbed come out here and go, ‘This is my favorite place.’ This is the place like they'll come out at the golden hour to take pictures. They just can’t stop telling me how much they love being out here.”
On Sept. 22, the Ghetto Gardeners will welcome guests to the Westside Ministries headquarters for the third annual Farm to Fork Dinner. The fundraiser, which will serve full-course meals, appetizers and desserts, will raise much-needed money for the organization. The meals will include lamb, pork, rabbit and chicken raised by the children, as well as the fruits and vegetables from the garden.
The dinner will begin at 7:30 p.m., with tours of the garden and property to be held at 6 p.m. Guests will also enjoy live aerialist entertainment performed by students of Westside’s dance program, Center for Urban Performance and Service.
Tickets are $40 and may be purchased in advance on Eventbrite by searching “Farm to Fork.”
