September 2025 Newsletter
2025 Harvest Festival
Celebrate local food, music, and community at the Crescent City Food Forest! Enjoy tastings, youth-led ag activities, crafts, games, and live music—all while supporting a healthy, resilient local food system.
Saturday, 12–5 PM
883 Washington Blvd (across from the high school track at College of the Redwoods Del Norte)
Music & Stage Schedule
12:00 PM Tsunami Swing Band- A crowd-pleasing ensemble with 19 brass instruments, the lively tunes bring the energy, charm, and timeless swing of classic favorites. Whether you’re tapping your toes, dancing along, or simply soaking in the music, this performance is sure to bring joy and excitement to every corner of the food forest.
1:00 PM Woodpile- Echoing the golden era of songwriting, Steven Kasmar and Michael Laslovich channel the soul and storytelling of the great singer-songwriters of the ‘60s, ‘70s — and beyond.
2:00PM Corn Eating Contest- To participate in the corn eating contest, please sign up at the CFC Booth, and meet at the left side of the stage at 2:00. Win prizes, toss cobs, and have a-maize-ing fun!
2:30 PM fELF- A guitar and drum duo with grooves from soaring solos to genre-defying detours, fELF blends jazz, rock, and avant-garde vibes into something totally unique and fiercely alive. Self-described as:
"A jazz polar bear with hard rock claws and a belly full of undigested new age."
4:00 PM to closing Rebel Tree & Sun Catcher- An unforgettable sound journey — an electrifying fusion of Brazilian reggae funk and the genre-bending street soul of Sun Catcher. Pure homegrown sound that hits deep and moves bodies.
All-Day Activities
Food Tastings with POP Club (Power of Produce)
Harvest Exchange- Share what you grow, enjoy what your neighbors sow!
Mandala Making- with seeds, flowers and leaves
Kids crafts & activities
Youth lead ag activities with Sunset & Del Norte High FFA Club and Del Norte 4H.
Yard games- giant Jenga, Yahtzee & corn hole
Photo Booth - capture the moment with fun props, costumes and more.
Cider making with Gateway Education
Seed Saving demonstration with Master Gardeners
Local Food Vendors:
Defe’s Cocina
Pizza Addict Pizzeria
Wild River Coffee
Crescent to Crescent Bakery
Local Brews and Wine:
Port o’ Pints
Seaquake
High Note Winery
💚 A huge shout-out and thank you to Port O’ Pints, Seaquake, and High Note Winery for donating their beverages! All alcohol sales will support the DNATL Community Food Council!
A fundraiser for DNATL Community Food Council; Strengthening our local food system to support a healthy and resilient North Coast Community.
Gather and Grow Food Hub
A Catalyst Fund recipient through the regional Redwood Region RISE (Resilient Inclusive Sustainable Economy) initiative. The Del Norte and Tribal Lands Community Food Council (DNATL CFC) was awarded $350,000 as part of the North Coast Food System Network to support the next phase of development for the Gather & Grow Food Hub and a regionally connected Resiliency Cold Node Project. This investment will help move the 15,000 sq. ft. food hub toward shovel-ready status by funding critical pre-development costs, including architectural, engineering, and environmental work needed for use permit approval and construction planning. https://ccrp.humboldt.edu/.../north-coast-food-system...
Taking the project to the next level, DNATL CFC was just awarded a near $2 million dollar grant through the California Department of Food and Agriculture Farm to Community Food Hubs Grant Program to further fund the construction and operations of the DNATL Gather and Grow Food Hub. The food hub will serve as transformative infrastructure for Del Norte—supporting small farmers, strengthening local food systems, and creating year-round access to fresh, local food. Designed to include cold and dry storage, commercial and teaching kitchens, a retail market that accepts nutrition benefits, and space for community and Tribal food programs, the hub will also contribute to a broader “Health Village” vision alongside nearby health and elder services. https://pressreleases.cdfa.ca.gov/Home/PressRelease/66128675
To date, DNATL CFC has secured over $4.5 million in capital support for the project demonstrating a growing regional commitment to food sovereignty, economic opportunity, and climate resilience.
$156,000 from CDFA’s Resilient Infrastructure Program
$350,000 Redwood Region Rise Catalyst Funding
$2 million from CDFA Food Hub grant
$2 million commitment from the Del Norte Healthcare District
other pending state and federal sources
On-the-Farm Field Day
Learn the Ins & Outs of Farming in Del Norte!
Thinking about starting your own farm? Want to build skills for growing food successfully in our unique coastal climate? Join us at Ocean Air Farms (2440 Morehead Rd. Ft. Dick, CA) for a special On-the-Farm Field Day & Learning Opportunity on September 19th, from 9AM-3PM.
This event is perfect for beginning farmers, gardeners ready to take the next step, and anyone curious about what it takes to operate a farm in Del Norte—come see firsthand the skills and knowledge you can build for a thriving, productive farm.
Take a guided tour of Ocean Air Farms, learn about local agriculture and farm operations, and get your questions answered by experienced farmers.
Please Register Here for this event.
Climate Resilient Farmer Rancher Training
No-Cost Farmer Training – Apply Now!
15 months of hands-on & classroom learning in climate-smart farming and business planning.
You’ll get:
Crop & livestock training
Business planning support
Internship or mentorship option
Travel stipends available
Choose a paid internship or mentorship on your own farm/garden.
Open to new and early-stage farmers, farmworkers, and community gardeners, with priority for historically underserved producers
Starts Jan 2026 – Apply by Fall 2025
Fill out the interest form today!
Climate Resilient Farmer Training Program: Interest Form
Elsewhere & Around Town
Regional Farm to School Gathering
North Coast Farm to School Regional Gathering:
What: Free one day gathering to strengthen relationships between School Nutrition Staff, Educators, Food Producers, Supply Chain Partners, and Farm to School Support Organizations.
When: 10/22 from 8:00 AM – 7:30 PM
Where: Loleta and Ferndale
How: RSVP Link (9/16 deadline)
CDFA Farm to School Program - North Coast - Network Lead:
Job Posting Link: https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Jobs/JobPosting.aspx?JobControlId=489942
Deadline: 9/25/25
Pacific Pantry & Mobile Market
Help Support the Pacific Pantry & Mobile Market
The Family Resource Center of the Redwoods Food Bank has an ongoing commitment to combat hunger in our community. The Pacific Pantry and Mobile Market support the most vulnerable in our community, providing local, nutritious food to families in need.
As we face these uncertain times, please consider joining us to take action against hunger. Together, our actions help ensure our community has the food needed to thrive.
Help make a difference by donating today.
School District Nutrition Services
Have you explored the DNUSD Nutrition website lately? 🌟
It’s packed with useful info on student nutrition, fitness, and wellness, plus up-to-date monthly menus. The Nutrition Services team works tirelessly to provide healthy meals made from scratch, featuring local beef, cheese, and fresh greens—supporting both our students and local farmers. We’re grateful for their dedication to keeping our community’s youth nourished and thriving all school year long!
Check out the website: DNUSD Food Service