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Dear Friends and Neighbors,

For many of us 2009 has been a challenging and  tumultuous year.  Our country is still at war, unemployment is over 12%, more people are in need, yet our shelters have less to offer. It takes times like these to truly effect change and make a difference in our own lives and in the world. Normally, we don’t take the time to question our actions, routines, and consumptions. Only when we are faced with difficulties and obstacles do we stop to rethink and explore new ways.

We are in the midst of many positive changes occurring all around us! Due the high price of gas, Americans are driving much less. We are recycling more and carrying reusable bags. And with the ever increasing cost of our food and continuing  outbreaks of contamination, more and more people are paying attention to what they eat and where it comes from.

In 1943 Eleanor Roosevelt planted the first “Victory Garden” at the White House. Within two years there were over 20 million home gardeners in this country supplying 40% of the food being consumed! With Michelle Obama repeating history, we once again have a vegetable garden installed prominently on our Capitol’s lawn.

Americans are following… Sales of seeds, tomato plants, and fruit trees soared in 2009. W. Atlee Burpee & Co, the largest seed company in the U.S., sold twice as many seeds this year as in 2008, with half of the sales coming from new customers.

It is exciting to be a part of the renewed emphasis on seasonal, local and responsibly-grown food that is taking place all around us! Our goal here at Full Circle Farm (FCF) is to provide you, our friends and neighbors, with a known and trusted source for your veggies, greens and (one day soon) fruits. As most of you know, we are an organic, pesticide-free operation. We grow hundreds of varieties of produce all year-round, everything from exotic Asian greens to edible flowers. Our CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program, unlike many others, is available throughout the entire year. Our Farmstand is opened to the public three days per week all year long. And, we are
extremely proud of our fruit orchard, one of the only large scale orchards to be planted in Silicon Valley over the last 75 years!

We are a multifaceted organization. We provide garden-based education four days per week to children from Peterson Middle School. Our educational garden, where you can learn about growing your soil as well as your food, is opened to the public on Wednesdays and Saturdays. We also host corporate volunteer groups, children’s field trips and educational tours on a regular basis. Our annual Earth Day Festival,  Halloween Hoedown, and Harvest Gala are events not to be missed! Our classes  and workshops cover a wide variety of interesting topics: growing mushrooms,
backyard chickens, harvesting produce, even making your own hand salves.

FCF experienced amazing change and growth in 2009! Highlights include:

• Planted 62 new trees in our historic orchard, now totaling 152 trees

• 4 crop fields now in full production, using seasonal rotation and cover crops

• Full Circle Farmstand opened to the public 3 days per week  (Wednesday, Friday, Sunday)

• Year-round CSA program supported by 55 community members quarterly

• Santa Clara Unified School District now receiving deliveries of seasonal, farm-fresh produce

• Education program now serving 380 sixth grade students from Peterson Middle School

• Welcomed 6 fulltime AmeriCorps Members who will be providing valuable service to FCF the coming year

• Installed new packing and tool sheds

• Built (with rave reviews) chicken coop, now housing the “most-loved” flock in all of Santa Clara County!

• Delivered 150 boxes of farm-fresh produce to local shelters and food banks through our 1st annual “Thanksgiving in October” campaign

• Charles Street Gardens (our community garden in downtown Sunnyvale) is now at full capacity with 92 plots and a productive “food forest”

• FCF & CSG donated over 30,000 lbs. of farm-fresh produce to local families in need!

• Kicked off many exciting annual events, hosting 1,000s of community members: Earth Day Celebration, Halloween Hoedown, Harvest Gala, Thanksgiving in October

And if that doesn’t seem like enough – our grand plans for 2010 include:

•  Plant the second and final phase of our fruit orchard, bringing the total to over 300 trees on 3 acres (info on our “Adopt A Tree” program will be coming soon)

• Expand our crop fields from 3½ to 6 acres

• Double our education garden from ½ to 1 full acre

• Build an educational kitchen in garden

• Increase our CSA membership from 55 to 100

• Install a Cultural Diversity Education Garden

• Provide local shelters with 300 boxes of produce through our “Thanksgiving in October” campaign

• Most importantly, see ALL of you here at the farm!!!

We look forward to your help in achieving our “grand plans” for 2010. With your financial contributions (no matter how large or small) as well the continued donation of your time and support, we know we will meet and exceed our goals!

Please visit our website to make a credit card donation:  www.fullcirclesunnyvale.org. Or feel free to pop a check in the mail or drop it by in person—we would love to see you!

Wishing you a happy holiday season and “fruitful” 2010!

Rebecca Jepsen
Executive Director

Peterson Field, Full Circle Farm, in 2007: