Usually this time of year, the Urban Roots teaching farm near downtown Reno is full of activity. It's a place where kids grow their own food and learn about nutrition and sustainability.
"We'd have 60 to 80 kids on the farm right now, and it seems so strange so quiet without kiddos here," said Fayth Ross, the nonprofit's Executive Director.
But the pandemic has brought Spring and Summer programming to a halt. So they're pivoting.
"Our teaching farm is now a traditional and teaching farm," Ross said. "So we're doing community supported agriculture programs so people can get some of the produce we're growing here. We also have a Summer camp in a box, so these kids can go home to their families. But the most exciting thing is we have a festival coming up. It's free, it's virtual and it's all online for three hours this Saturday."
The online fundraiser, called Art, Food & Roots, will feature local chefs, artists and musicians and will be co-hosted by actress Melissa Joan Hart, who lives in the Tahoe area and is a fan of the nonprofit's work.
"It's so helpful when kids are picky eaters like mine, it's so hard to get them to eat good food or learn good habits, and that's what they teach there," Hart said. "They teach gardening, all the basic skills that I think everyone needs to learn and we just don't anymore. It's super fun to be involved in something so great for the area and just in general. Hopefully, this 'sprouts roots' and happens all over the country."
The fundraiser comes at a crucial time. The hope is, the community will come out and support a program that teaches lifelong skills.
"This is a scary time for us," Ross said. "We're ten years old and we're not even sure we'll be able to make it ten months, maybe not even ten weeks. We need our community's support so we can continue to change the way kids eat and learn, to continue to deepen those partnerships with the Washoe County School District, and continue to use this resource from Renown. It's a crucial time for us."
The event is free to watch on Saturday from 3 p.m to 6 p.m. Donations will be accepted throughout.
