Date: 12/18/25 10:49 am From: Mark Allaback <markallaback...> Subject: Re: [MBBIRDS] Homeless Garden
Hello,
I'm a local wildlife biologist on the mbbirds group and have done quite a bit of work over the years around Antonelli and Younger Lagoon. In response to the questions regarding the homeless garden property, the Director asked me to provide this response. Please direct any further queries to the email address provided.
Thanks.
Mark Allaback, Wildlife Biologist Biosearch Environmental ConsultingP.O. Box 1220 Santa Cruz, CA 95061
For 35 years, the Homeless Garden Project has welcomed the community onto our farm. Part of our mission relates to bringing the community together in the beauty and security of the farm. We love the birds that come to the farm and the birders! We also welcome local businesses, school groups of all ages, volunteers, CSA members, local employers, guest lecturers and any community members who want to visit the farm.
We have been farming on Natural Bridges Farm since 1995. In 2025, we harvested (so far!) more than 36K pounds of organic produce, which was used in trainee lunches, sold at our farm stand and to Community Supported Agriculture members, as well as to neighbors experiencing food insecurity via our Feed 2 Birds program. Our main program is a workforce development program, providing transitional employment to people experiencing homelessness, wage paid, time-limited employment, with the goal of getting jobs in the community. In 2024, 93% of our graduates secured jobs and housing.
The Natural Bridges Farm land is privately owned and we've been working to secure entitlements to purchase 4 acres of the land to ensure we can continue to provide this needed and successful service. We receive about 1% or our support from County CORE funding, about 61% from donations and 25% from earned income at our farm and social enterprises--these percentages change from year to year. In 2024, we received a one time grant that made up the difference.
Farming is wonderful work--our farmers love working with the soil, growing food, and connecting with the community. It is also hard work, at times working in cold, wet weather, addressing pest and crop problems. The fence protects our crops from deer and the gate ensures food safety and protects our crops from people who vandalized the farm, such as tearing up beds of crops, leaving the crops strewn about the farm. We depend on these crops for our customers. The farm is open 8-4 every day, please feel free to stop by during these hours. The farm stand and volunteer hours are 10-4, Tuesday-Sunday. Occasionally, such as for our staff retreat or holiday party, the farm will be closed to allow our staff to be together.
Thank you for your understanding. If you'd like more information, please visit our website www.homelessgardenproject.org or email <info...>
On Saturday, December 13, 2025 at 09:56:56 AM PST, 'Stephanie' via mbbirds <mbbirds...> wrote:
If anyone does go meet with them, please let me know. I'm just about finished with a handout to give them, introducing common birds of the garden. It'd provide a nice opening to start the conversation.
~Stephanie
On Sat, Dec 13, 2025 at 8:47 AM, Cliff Bixler<clifford.bixler50...> wrote: Does anyone know how it came to be that the Homeless Garden is now locked to early morning birders?Gates locked and hours posted Tuesday to Sunday 10-4. Early morning and late afternoon are prime birding times. Perhaps some representatives of the bird club could talk with them and work out an arrangement similar to Younger Lagoon?It is city owned property after all and they exist due to our support from individual and tax dollars. It seems like they could allow access to birders without sacrificing security. Perhaps having us there would actually deter theft.Cliff Bixler Bonny Doon
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