Volunteers Begin Southbank Learning Farm Metamorphosis
Our July monthly volunteer day officially set in motion the renewal of our Southbank Learning Farm.
It has been quite a while since we have been able to gather for the clean-up and care of this special site in Oxnard. That is why this month’s volunteer day brought so much hope and joy—not just to the SEEAG team, but to the local community and to the land itself.
The Journey So Far
As you may remember, the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging (VCAAA) in partnership with the Ventura County Probation Agency funded a Senior Nutrition Farm at this site for many years. They worked closely with the next-door neighbor, the nonprofit organization Food Share, to distribute freshly grown produce to county seniors in need.
When funding for that project ended in November 2024, the property entered a period of transition. That changed in March of this year when SEEAG signed a lease to take over the site and create a new vision for the farm.
This space is being revitalized with a beautiful new purpose. It will be dedicated to:
Hands-on agricultural training and workforce development for youth in the juvenile justice system.
Community nourishment, with SEEAG continuing to donate a portion of every harvest to local community members in need.
A Great New Start
It always surprises us how much we accomplish when we come together as a community. This month, we made incredible headway on the farm:
Tackling Weeds: Armed with gloves and weed whackers, the team cut back unruly, persistent overgrowth across several major areas of the farm.
Watering: Together we watered very thirsty trees and other plants. Amazingly, many of them have continued to grow—and even produce—despite going over a year with very little care.
Harvesting Fruits: This land does not hold back! With hundreds of dragon fruit vines, we were able to pick, gather and share many growing fruits. Our citrus grove also continues to produce oranges, tangerines, tangelos, and grapefruit. We were able to harvest these along with a few other fruits to share.
Extending Gratitude
We cannot thank the Kiwanis Aktion Club enough for their consistent participation and efforts at our monthly farm site events. We also thank the individual volunteers both here for the first time and those who continue to bless us with their time, presence and expertise.
Farm work takes physical energy and plenty of sweat, especially on this July day which exuded heat even though we started early in the morning. We know it is truly a labor of love. Our joy is multiplied seeing people of all ages and walks of life working side-by-side. From the depths of our hearts, thank you!
Upcoming Volunteer Events
We have several unique areas where you can get involved:
On our Southbank Learning Farm
At Special SEEAG Events
At Farm and School Education Sites.
📅 Mark Your Calendar: Summer Celebration! Under the SEEAG Events category, our Summer Celebration is coming up on Sunday, August 16th. Please check our website link for information on volunteering at this event.
We will also be setting dates for our next monthly volunteer dates at our Farm and School Education sites and at our Southbank Learning Farm. Please keep an eye on our website for updates.
👉First Time Volunteers. Take a quick moment to fill out our waiver form here.
Questions or Suggestions? We’d love to hear from you! Feel free to reach out directly to Bobbi.