Oakland’s Microfarm Movement | Land Action

Submitted by the Event Organizer

Land Action is working to turn abandoned lots into microfarms in Oakland!

A lot at 37th and West had been abandoned for many years. With back taxes and other fees totaling around $650,000, no one came forward to claim responsibility for it. The weeds and trash piled up for years until Terese Dawn Elkins and Steven DeCaprio, CEO/founder of Land Action, took possession of the property and began gardening there. This experience was the inspiration for Land Action to partner up with other community groups and set a goal to create 100 microfarms in the next 5 years.

There’s quite a lot to be done, and the work has already started! Recently Land Action was able to prevent the eviction of other community gardens in Oakland that the city had planned to sell to developers. Not only were they able to stop the evictions, but they were able to develop a framework with the city and the county to create more gardens, farms, and conservation projects on abandoned properties throughout the city.

Our walk leader will be Steve DeCaprio, CEO and Founder of Land Action. For over a decade he has been involved in housing struggles and advocacy in the Bay Area. He is known as an expert on occupying, improving, and repurposing abandoned property for the benefit of the community at large and for providing resources to environmental and social justice organizers. He was featured in the film “Shelter: a squatumentary,” has been featured in numerous publications, and was named one of 12 Visionaries of 2012 by the Utne Reader.

Come and see the microfarm that began it all, and learn about the history of Land Action!

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.