Urban Tilth Random Image

About Us

Mission

Urban Tilth cultivates agriculture in west Contra Costa County to help our community build a more sustainable, healthy, and just food system. We work with schools, community-based organizations, government agencies, businesses, and individuals to develop the capacity to produce 5% of our own food supply.

Urban Tilth has a deep commitment to West Contra Costa County. We believe that environmental restoration is inextricably connected to economic and social restoration. As a result we are committed to training and employing local people, working collaboratively within community, establishing cross sector coalitions, engaging in local policy decisions and growing our food (and ourselves), locally and organically using the principles of permaculture to take into consideration waste reduction as well as water and soil conservation, preservation and restoration.

Our Staff

  • Jessie Alberto: Project Manager, AdamsCrest Farm
  • Jonathan Alberto: Apprentice, AdamsCrest Farm
  • Adam Boisvert: Project Manager, Richmond High Urban Ag Institute
  • Dejanique Dean: Administrative Assistant
  • Sherman Dean: Project Co-Manager, Edible Forest
  • Vincent Dean: Project Coordinator, Lincoln After-school Program
  • Nakiya Hutcherson: Apprentice, Greenway Gardens
  • Teresa Jimenez: Project Coordinator, Richmond High School Urban Ag Institute
  • Jamarr Johnson: Apprentice, Kennedy High School Farm & Edible Forest
  • Bob Gade: Co-Instructor, Richmond High School Urban Ag Institute
  • Alfonso de Leon: Apprentice, AdamsCrest Farm
  • Bienvenida Meza: Education Manager, Verde Partnership Garden
  • David Meza: Project Manager, Kennedy High Garden Club & Program Coordinator, Greenway Gardens
  • Tania Pulido: Project Manager: Lincoln After-school Program
  • Doria Robinson: Executive Director & project Lead Richmond Food Policy Council
  • Jeff Rutland: Project Co-Manager, Edible Forest & Faith-based Initiatives
  • Kenji Warren: Garden Manager, Verde Partnership Garden
  • Lance Zeno: Apprentice, Verde Partnership Garden

 

Board of Directors

  • Richard Walkling: Chair of the Board (Term: August 2011 – July 2013)
  • Jesse Kurtz-Nichol: Board Secretary
  • Rick Topinka: Board Treasurer
  • Richard Boyd
  • Leslie Geathers
  • John Lee
  • Eli Moore
  • Doria Robinson
  • Nicole Valentino
  • Cheryl Vaughn
  • Rich Walkling

 

Supporters

Without the support from a large number of individuals and organizations, we would not be able to work towards our mission. To all of our supporters, thank you. If you have contact with these businesses, organizations, or individuals, please thank them for supporting Urban Tilth.

We have received financial support from the following funders:

  • Aepoch Foundation
  • Bridgebuilder’s Foundation
  • The California Endowment
  • Contra Costa County Community Block Grants
  • East Bay Community Foundation
  • Firedoll Foundation
  • Kaiser Community Benefits
  • Lef Family Foundation
  • Mitchell Kapor Foundation
  • North Richmond Mitigation Fund
  • Placzek Family Foundation
  • Richmond Community Foundation
  • San Francisco Professional Food Society
  • Seed Fund
  • Silbert Foundation
  • Stewardship Council: Youth Investment Program
  • Subaru Foundation
  • United Way of the East Bay
  • USDA: Community Food Projects
  • USFS: More Kids in the Woods Grant
  • Veolia Fund
  • West Contra Costa County Unifed School District: Verde Elementary
  • And hundreds of fearless, regular everyday people who give what they can to support this work and to whom we are deeply grateful!

We have received in-kind support from the following businesses:

Our work is also supported by the following agencies:

  • The City of Richmond, City Manager’s Office
  • The City of Richmond, Office of the Mayor
  • The City of Richmond, Parks and Landscaping Division
  • The City of Richmond, Richmond Works
  • West Contra Costa County Unifed School District

Allies

We work with the following organizations: