23 Jan Urban Tilth Hosts Eighth MLK Day of Service in North Richmond to ‘Sow Some Seeds That Are Positive’

Story and photos by Joe Porrello

Local community members of all ages and backgrounds gathered at the North Richmond Farm on Monday afternoon to celebrate its eighth annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service.

The event came courtesy of Urban Tilth, which has programs to build employment opportunities, a more sustainable food system, and a healthier community.

 

“Honoring Dr. King at this moment, especially today on Inauguration Day, is just so important because it reminds us that we’ve had really tough times before and people have rallied — they’ve been courageous when it wasn’t comfortable or safe,” said Doria Robinson, Urban Tilth executive director of 17 years, City Council member, and third-generation Richmond resident. 

Cars nestled in across the street from the packed farm parking lot, as over 100 residents signed up to take part.

“There were way more people than we thought,” said Robinson. “I think a lot that are here today didn’t want to be home in front of the television thinking negative thoughts but rather wanted to come together and sow some seeds that are positive.”

 

Robinson says such constructiveness often requires some unselfish service, a la Dr. King, and choosing to use one’s time — in this case, a holiday off-day from work — to serve the greater good of their community.

“We made this a ‘day on,’ to remember that,” she said.

To start the festivities, staff members handed out gardening gloves to attendees before instructing them on proper planting techniques and helpful tips.

 

Residents then made conversation with new acquaintances or bonded with family as they transplanted their vegetation of choice from pots into garden beds on site.

Longtime activist Tutherukhonsuhotep Kingdom X, 38, enjoyed the event with his two sons, 8-year-old Kingdom Excellence Black-Ware and 2-year-old Wisdom Immaculate Black-Ware.

 

“We’re out here for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,” said Kingdom X. “We all know the sacrifices he made — he represented a movement for all humanity,”

He highlighted the importance of Urban Tilth’s mission and success.

“I haven’t seen anything like this my whole life; folks just coming together to till and build, and heal the land and heal each other,” he said. “Living in the Bay Area, we’re so used to all the hustle and bustle and just focusing on surviving — we never really get a chance to just live and be.”

 

In about an hour, seemingly endless plants of different types had been given a new home in about 20 previously empty garden plots.

Many kids in attendance also took advantage of the opportunity to feed and pet chickens and roosters that live at North Richmond Farm.

 

Lathel Douglas III, 16, designed and made shirts for the event worn by many staff members and attendees.

“Man, it’s just great out here — there’s so many people doing a lot for their community that I’ve already talked to,” he said. “People willing to actually get their hands dirty and make a change is just a nice thing to see.”

 

After planting, residents replenished themselves with catered food like cornbread and collard greens provided by Urban Tilth.

 

Some attendees were experiencing the gathering for the first time, while others had plants at North Richmond Farm that they put into the ground during its first MLK Day celebration in 2017.

Similarly, Robinson has seen the proverbial roots of Urban Tilth mature from the beginning.

“I’ve seen this organization grow from literally two or three volunteers back when we started in 2005,” she said, “to now having 72 staff members across seven sites and about 14 programs that do everything from watershed restoration to food distribution.”

 

Currently serving about 500 families produce per week from their several local farm sites, Urban Tilth reshaped a formerly vacant county-owned lot into what is now a core benefit for community members. 

“It’s good to be able to promise something eight years ago and now say, ‘Look, we’re doing it — we did it,’’’ said Robinson.

 

Using a staff made up of about 75% local residents, Urban Tilth’s offerings include free fruit trees for those living in local housing project areas like Atchison Village and the Iron Triangle, along with free farm stands all over Richmond from Tuesday to Friday starting at 2 p.m.

 

Recurring monthly volunteer events are held by Urban Tilth on first Sundays at Richmond High, second Saturdays on the Richmond Greenway, and third Saturdays at Unity Park. Free veggie and flower starting kits can be acquired with no charge on site at the North Richmond Farm nursery stand every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

 

Through CalAIM, Urban Tilth serves as a Medically Tailored Meal vendor with Contra Costa Health Services — fulfilling referrals for eligible patients to receive weekly bags of fresh produce via the VeggieRX program. Such nutrition, Robinson says, can help people with chronic diseases control their illnesses more effectively.

 

Even outside of its specific programs, Urban Tilth provides however it can.

“Anybody from North Richmond can harvest here any time they want to,” said Robinson.

 

With an expansion underway that will grow the North Richmond Farm to 10 acres, double employment, feature a community room for organizing, and a cooperative cafe with free wi-fi and community kitchen to support local food entrepreneurs — Robinson is still focused on the present.

“When times are hard, it’s moments like this that you want to remember to help you keep going; when people circle up and have bright days together,” she said. “I think we’re about to enter a pretty dark time, so it’s really important for people to not stay isolated.”