When Kelly Carlisle was stationed on the USS Essex as an operation medical specialist with the United States Navy , the food for thought she ate in the mess halls came from cans and boxes , not farms .
Carlisle was on active duty from 2001 to 2005 . During that clock time , her focal point was on ensuring safe pilotage of the ship through the Ethel Waters off the sea-coast of Japan ; the California native did n’t give a 2d thought to where her food come from .
“ Growing up , my parents had a garden and I thought they were weirdoes , ” she think . “ I had never think of raise my own food . ”
In 2008 , Carlisle changed her mind when she saw alemon treein a garden marrow and discovered the fruit clinging to the branch was genuine . Until that minute , the California indigene had no idea lemons spring up on tree .
“ I had never noticed them before , ” she explain . “ The musical theme that you could grow your own lemons in your own outer space was thinker - boggling . I bought the tree , planted it [ in a stainless steel food waste pail on the patio ] and dared it to grow another lemon . It did and I was in love . ”
Although Carlisle was thrilled to grow the stinker , she did n’t want to eat it . She did n’t opine it was secure — and neither did her Padre who , despite wring fresh lemon into his tea leaf each morning , preferred to purchase the fruits at the supermarket .
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“ We matte up like if the USDA did n’t look at it and it did n’t come with a little sticker with a barcode on it , it could n’t be real food , ” she recalls .
Carlisle ’s success mature lemon , however , exalt her to experiment with other foods . Acta Non Verba
During a 2nd stint in the military — serving in the Navy Reserves from 2010 to 2013 — she continued adding to her backyard orchard . Before long , the terrace of her Oakland apartment was filled with yield tree , all growing in stainless - brand garbage cans ( which were cheaper than traditional garden potentiometer ) . Along the path , she earnedMaster Gardener certificationand started feed her harvests .
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Around the same meter Carlisle was nurturing fruit tree , news reports were paint a bleak picture of Oakland , which had been range one of the most dangerous metropolis in the U.S. , with come up dropout and teen - prostitution rates .
The Navy vet was put off about the struggles in her community and think nutrient was the answer . Acta Non Verba
In 2011 , Carlisle partner with the Oakland Parks and Recreation department to access a quarter - Akka space for a farm , which she nickname theActa Non Verba – Youth Urban Farm Project . The name , which is Latin for “ works , not words , ” reflected her goal of taking action to improve her community .
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The finish : transubstantiate a space in the heart of afood desertinto a prosperous farm where local tiddler could learn about farming and the local residential area could benefit from improved access to fresh , low-cost , healthy nutrient .
“ Their picture to different kinds of foods is special , especially novel nutrient , ” Carlisle say . “ If you show them fresh green bean plant , they ’re like , ‘ What are those ? ’ but if you show them a can of green beans , they jazz on the dot what it is . ”Acta Non Verba / Facebook
Carlisle recalls one little miss who was scandalise that beets came from the primer , not as pre - cut discs in a can .
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During summer camps and afterschool program , the kids plan the garden , plant seed , crop produce , and sell it through CSAs and restaurant sales . Acta Non Verba also pop the question victuals and cooking grade , stock a food larder and sells garden truck at an on - site farm stand that accepts EBT payments .
A portion of the green groceries grow on the farm , which ranges from Lycopersicon esculentum and salad greens to purple cauliflower , is reserve for resident of the housing projects adjacent to the farm . The produce is sell at a discounted charge per unit of $ 15 per bag . ( The retail price for CSA shareholders is $ 25 . )
All of the proceeds from the farm sale go into “ growth account ” designed to help the children go to college . Acta Non Verba / Facebook
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In the beginning , Carlisle tried to charge loose CSA shares home with the kids , but most of the garden truck come back , uneaten .
“ The child would tell me , ‘ My mom said she does n’t hump what to do with this , ’ ” she explains .
Carlisle understands . After all , she once refused to eat the lemons growing on her own tree .
Now that she has more experience farm solid food , Carlisle is proud of her career as a veteran - turn - sodbuster and hopes that others will regain the same authorization in growing food that she has .
“ Our food system is such a delicate balance and farming is such a noble affair to do , ” she say . “ Urban land can create important economical chance in underserved areas and help improve the health of our communities . ”
