July 2026 Newsletter
As summer is in full swing, we're excited to share the many ways our community has been growing together. From preparing students for the county fair and enhancing school gardens to expanding the Food Forest and supporting local farmers, the past month has been filled with meaningful progress. Thank you to our staff, volunteers, partners, and community members who continue to help cultivate a healthier, more resilient local food system.
Program Highlights
Harvest Box
This past Thursday, July 9th, our team packed and distributed the first 30 Harvest Boxes, filled with fresh, seasonal produce from Promiseland Farm, including carrots, sweet Spanish onions, butterhead lettuce, bell peppers, and zucchini. Customers also had the option to add locally raised ground beef from Prairie Companion Company to their order.
The next Harvest Box will be distributed on July 23rd and will feature 4–6 seasonal produce items, including microgreens from Prairie Companion Company and cherry tomatoes from Seabreeze Farms. An optional add-on of Seabreeze Farms' apricot and strawberry jam will also be available. Sign up by midnight on Wednesday, July 15, to reserve your Harvest Box for pickup or delivery. Visit our website to place your order!
School Gardens
As the school year wrapped up, our School Gardens Program celebrated another successful season of nutrition education, growing food, building skills, and strengthening community partnerships. A highlight was the 'O Me-Nok Cultural Food Day, where students celebrated with traditionally smoked Yurok salmon, local beef from Prairie Companion Company, Rumiano cheese, and lettuce grown in the Crescent Elk Elementary School Garden. This special event was made possible through our ongoing partnership with the Yurok Environmental Department and celebrated the ‘O Me-Nok students who participated in our garden program throughout the year.
The School Gardens team is busy revitalizing gardens through the summer. At Smith River Elementary, staff, volunteers, and local partners installed a new irrigation system and launched a community-supported pumpkin patch. Six new garden beds have been added at Pine Grove Elementary, and a new high tunnel has been completed at 'O Me-Nok Elementary. We are extremely proud of all of the hard work being put into revitalizing these spaces.
Agricultural Programs
This past month, our Agricultural Programs continued to support both beginning farmers and the next generation of agricultural leaders through hands-on learning and mentorship. Participants in the Climate-Resilient Farmer Training program completed soil and water testing, met with their assigned mentors, and received on-farm technical assistance to strengthen sustainable farming practices.
We also continued working closely with Career and Technical Education (CTE), Future Farmers of America (FFA), and 4-H students as they prepare for the Del Norte County Fair this August. Students have been busy completing livestock finishing activities, refining their project skills, and getting ready to showcase the hard work they've invested throughout the year.
Through our ongoing Agricultural Mini-Grant Program, we awarded CTE student Kayden Griffin a $200 grant to help offset livestock feed, animal care, and fair preparation expenses. With guidance and mentorship from our Agricultural Programs Coordinator, Kayden developed a production plan for his market hog project and was recognized during the CTE awards ceremony for his dedication and accomplishments.
Our team also remained actively involved with the local FFA chapter by serving on the FFA Steering Committee, assisting with officer interviews, and helping celebrate students at the annual FFA Banquet. We were honored to receive an appreciation pin, commemorative shirt, and award from the FFA chapter in recognition of our continued partnership and commitment to supporting the next generation of agricultural leaders.
Farmers Market
The Downtown Crescent City Farmers Market is in full swing! Join us every Wednesday from 9AM-2PM, rain or shine, at 240 H Street in Crescent City. Community members can enjoy fresh local produce, prepared foods, handmade goods, live music, and family-friendly activities while supporting local farmers, food producers, and artists. The market also proudly accepts EBT and Market Match, helping make fresh, healthy food more accessible to the community.
Two exciting youth programs are also taking place at the Farmers Market through August 12! Stop by the Power of Produce (POP) Club booth from 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m., where kids can sample fresh, local foods and earn a $6 voucher to spend on fruits and vegetables at the market. The Del Norte Unified School District's Seamless Summer Meals Program is also at the market each week, providing free breakfast and lunch for all children and youth ages 18 and under from 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Together, these programs help families enjoy healthy, local food while making the Farmers Market a fun and welcoming destination for all ages. For more information, visit our website at: dnatlfoodcouncil.org/farmers-markets.
Food Forest
The Food Forest has been busy with activity this month thanks to the incredible dedication of our volunteers and interns. A major accomplishment was the installation of a new three-bin composting system, made possible through the hard work of volunteer Jacob and a generous wood donation from Kassandra. Community members are already using the system and learning how compost moves through each stage. We also added new learning stations to several fruit trees, providing visitors with information about tree varieties, harvest seasons, and proper harvesting techniques as we continue expanding educational signage throughout the orchard.
The Crescent City Food Forest remains open daily from sunrise to sundown serving as a living learning space for the entire community at 883 W. Washington Blvd. The weekly Garden Parties continue every Tuesday from 2:00–5:00 p.m. Don't forget—our final Fruiting Perennials Workshop with Terry Allaway will be held on August 1st, 10am-12pm at the Food Forest and will focus on summer pruning skills.
We also celebrated two Food Forest interns, Dylyn and Teegan, who completed their volunteer hours this past month. Dylyn shared a wealth of knowledge about the Food Forest's plants and wildlife, while Teegan brought an eagerness to learn and a dedication to growing food. We are incredibly thankful for their hard work and lasting contributions to the Food Forest.
Community Nutrition Education
The Del Norte & Tribal Lands Community Food Council is thrilled to celebrate the successful launch of the first week of our Food & Farm Camp in Smith River, held in partnership with the Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation. Throughout the week, K–5 youth participated in hands-on activities that celebrated Tolowa culture, traditional ecological knowledge, healthy foods, and caring for the land and waters that sustain our communities.
Campers explored the garden, learned about local plants and food systems, prepared healthy recipes, created art, and enjoyed outdoor learning experiences that fostered curiosity, teamwork, and a deeper connection to place. The week culminated in a special community celebration featuring traditional foods, where campers shared elk chili and seafood chowder, alongside fresh butter and homemade jam they proudly made with the support of the University of California Cooperative Extension Master Food Preservers. Sharing these foods together highlighted the importance of traditional foods, local ingredients, and the knowledge that connects generations through food.
This incredible week was made possible through the collaboration and generosity of the Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation, our dedicated camp staff, Youth Camp Counselors, volunteers, Elders, cultural knowledge keepers, the Master Food Preservers, and our many community partners. Together, they created a welcoming space where youth could learn new skills, strengthen their connection to culture and community, and discover the joy of growing, preparing, and sharing food.
We are grateful to everyone who helped make this first week such a meaningful success and look forward to continuing Food & Farm Camp in Klamath and Crescent City later this summer, bringing more opportunities for youth to celebrate culture, food sovereignty, environmental stewardship, and the rich traditions of our region.
Mini Grant Application Gather & Grow
We are offering mini grants to community members. Receive up to $200 to provide healthy local food for your community event or up to $500 to support new & existing community gardens
Apply Here Applications are due by the end of each month. Click the link above to learn more & apply.