Community Education
Fostering lifelong learning, strengthening community relationships, and expanding access to food and agricultural education through hands-on, locally rooted experiences.
Overview
Community workshops and events offer free educational opportunities focused on nutrition, gardening, food systems, preservation, and agriculture for youth, families, and community members throughout Del Norte and Tribal Lands. Through workshops, camps, school partnerships, field trips, and community events, we create welcoming spaces where people of all ages can learn practical skills, share knowledge, and strengthen connections to local food systems and one another.
Launch year: 2024
Coordinator: Angela Gray
Source of funding: The California Endowment (TCE), Klamath Promise Neighborhood (KPN)
Events
The Del Norte & Tribal Lands Community Food Council hosts two main annual events: Seed & Plant Exchange in the spring and Harvest Festival in the fall.
Harvest Festival
The Harvest Festival is an annual community celebration hosted by the Del Norte & Tribal Lands Community Food Council at Taa-‘at-dvn Chee-ne’ Tetlh-tvm’ (Crescent City Food Forest). The festival brings together community members, local farmers, food producers, artists, organizations, and families for an afternoon centered around local food, connection, and the fall harvest.
The event features live music, local food and artisan vendors, hands-on activities, games, and opportunities to highlight the people and organizations strengthening our local food system. Activities have included seed saving, food preservation demonstrations, a community harvest swap, cider pressing, seed mosaics, and the annual corn-eating contest. Community partners, volunteers, local producers, and donors all play an important role in bringing the event to life.
In 2026, more than 600 community members attended the Harvest Festival, enjoying an afternoon of music, food, activities, and connection at the Food Forest. The festival continues to grow each year as a space for community members to come together, support local food and businesses, share knowledge, and enjoy the abundance of the season.
Seed & Plant Exchange
The Seed & Plant Exchange is an annual spring event hosted by the Del Norte & Tribal Lands Community Food Council, bringing the community together to share seeds, plants, knowledge, and resources as the growing season begins. Attendees can take home free seeds and plants, share what they have, connect with local organizations and growers, and learn new skills.
The event features workshops, hands-on activities, local vendors, a community marketplace, and kids activities. Community partners and local experts lead workshops and demonstrations on topics including seed starting, composting, food preservation, seed saving, and seed sovereignty. Partners have included UC Master Gardeners, Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation, local farms and nurseries, community gardens, beekeepers, and local agencies and organizations.
In 2026, roughly 800 people attended the Seed & Plant Exchange. The event continues to grow as a space for community members to connect, learn, share resources, and grow together.
2025 Impacts
40+ Educational Workshops, Events & Field Trips
1,000+ Direct Participants
2 Large Community Events
5+ Schools Engaged
30+ Community Partners
Current Actions
Organize quarterly cooking, gardening, and nutrition workshops
Host community events including The Seed & Plant Exchange and Harvest Festival
Partner with Del Norte High School and Sunset High School to support youth entrepreneurship and agricultural career exploration
Host multigenerational Food & Farm Summer Camps (3 locations) featuring Tribal elders, educators, counselors, and community leaders
Participate in Career and Technical Education Fairs to connect students with employment opportunities
Create opportunities for students to complete Supervised Agricultural Experience hours through the Food Forest
Connect students with local agricultural professionals and career speakers
Support the Future Farmers of America programs at Del Norte High School and Sunset High School
Strengthen partnerships with schools, Tribal governments, and community organizations
Expand programming directly into Tribal communities to improve accessibility and collaboration
Support hands-on food preservation education through the launch of the Junior Master Preserver course beginning Fall 2026