Sierra Harvest

“Compensation Review Approval Process- CEO Top Management- Executive Directors prepare a budget based on Non profit Resource Centers compensation guide for Northern CA and Board approves it.”

“Compensation Review Approval Process- Officers Key Employees- Executive Directors prepare a budget based on Non profit Resource Centers compensation guide for Northern CA and Board approves it.”

“Explanation of Other Means Forms Available for Public Inspection- Organization forms and documents are on file in our office and are available upon request.”

“Explanation of Monitoring and Enforcement of conflicts- Board Members sign our conflict of interest policy when they join the Board and it is filed.”

“Other Organization Documents Publicly Available- These policies are on file in our office and are available upon request.”

“Program Service Expenses 58,508, Grants and allocations 0, Revenue 42,293 THE SIERRA GARDENS program enhances health and food access by supporting families and community organizations in growing fruits and vegetables providing garden beds plus two years of gardening and cooking classes, mentorship and starts. Since the program began, Sierra Harvest has supported 40 gardens and seen an 83 reduction in participants that had to regularly skip a meal. 68 of the program participants grew NONE of the produce their family ate before the program, and now 100 grow at least 25 of the produce their family eats.”

“Program Service Expenses 21,329, Grants and allocations 0, Revenue 10,495 THE FARM INSTITUTE is a new program in 2016 that works alongside farmers and ranchers to support an increase in sustainably grown fresh food in Nevada County. Our programs are designed to build the prosperity of ecologically sustainable producers, to increase the land in sustainable production, and to train more beginning farmers as our older generation of producers retire. Through our Farm Crew training program, we recruit, help place, and train beginning farmers in sustainable agriculture production. Farm Biz, a four-month business skill-building course, brings small business professionals and educators to our local farmers and ranchers. Our Land Match program works to connect sustainable farmers and ranchers with locally available agricultural land.”

“Program Service Expenses 4,666, Grants and allocations 0, Revenue 662 FOOD ADVOCACY- We engage in local, regional, and national policies that support just, sustainable food systems. The Nevada County Food Policy Council NCFPC was formed in March 2015 to foster collaboration among local food and farming individuals, businesses and organizations, set common goals and work together to maximize positive impacts on the food environment, human health and livelihoods in the community. The NCFPC is a member of the California Food Policy Council which allows us to weigh in on statewide food and farming policies that impact Nevada County. The NCFPC, made up of 30 local food and farming organizations, has embarked on a food system assessment to study the impacts of the current industrialized food system present in the county and invest in a more vibrant local food system built on a strong sense of community.”

“Program Service Expenses 27,515, Grants and allocations 0, Revenue 10,858 SCHOOL FOOD Sierra Harvest, in collaboration with the current school meal providers, is working to incorporate more locally and regionally grown fresh foods into the school meal program. We do this through tastings, salad bars, California Thursdays promotion, supporting individual school districts with their goals to serve scratch cooked meals, and by connecting local farms to school meal providers.”

“THE FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAM is currently in twenty-two Nevada County schools and reaches over 6700 students 96 of the K-8 students in the Western Nevada County. Sierra Harvest connects each school with a local farm partner. This farmer hosts farm field trips at their farms, provides produce for a weekly produce stand at the school, and comes into the classroom to share farming stories and activities with the kids. We also do monthly Harvest of the Month tastings of local, seasonal fruits and vegetables delivered to classrooms along with educator curriculum and a family newsletter. Our Tasting Week brings guest chefs from around the county into hundreds of classrooms to cook simple, seasonal meals. Our pre and post-test survey data indicate that of the students who participate in our Farm to School programming, 54 more students like the fruits and veggies they try during Harvest of the Month tastings than before the tasting, 80 more students can name a farmer, and 33 more students report that their families shop directly from farmers.”

“EDUCATIONAL FARMS PROGRAM- Sierra Harvest supports farm education for school age kids through our educational farm, The Food Love Project and by supporting garden education at schools. The Food Love Project is devoted to promoting nutrition education, food security, and community involvement in growing, harvesting, eating, and celebrating fresh food. The farm hosts experiential field trips, summer camps, service projects, U-pick, and community work days. The Food Love Project provides 5,000 hours of hands-on farm education through field trips, camps, and in-school visits. It provides educational services to at least 700 community members, with approximately 30 being at-risk youth and adults. The farm produces over 2,000 pounds of fresh vegetables that are planted and harvested by program participants. Sierra Harvest also supports garden education at Yuba River Charter School, Scotten and Lyman Gilmore schools. This includes developing garden curriculum, teaching classes, leading field trips, and doing in-class garden lessons.”

“FARMER EVENTS-Sierra Harvest puts on a series of community events promoting local food and farms attended by over 1000 people each year. Ten farm potlucks feature a different farm every other week throughout the growing season and soup nights feature farm fresh soups and bread for family and community. Sierra Harvest also maintains a local food events calendar. Our events build the customer base and bring high quality education to Nevada County farmers and ranchers year round. The Sustainable Food and Farm conference is an annual regional conference designed to serve the educational needs of the local and regional sustainable farming community. The conference begins with a day of farm tours and a specialized hands-on workshop featuring a specific farming topic. It is followed by two days of presentations from nationally recognized speakers and afternoon breakout sessions for participants to ask questions and get advice. The conference also offers 20 workshop sessions on food and farming topics taught by local and regional experts in the field. The Sustainable Food Farm Conference serves 550 people, including 85 farmers who received scholarships to attend.”

“Fees for Services, Other. Program based fees for services are 31,960 for Farm to School liaisons, 11,750 for Farm Conference speaker fees, 19,033 for educator fees for the Farm to School Program, 9,126 for food preparation for the Farm Conference, 6,000 for the Food Corps Member who supports all programs, 3,000 for Farm Conference organizing support, 6838 for miscellaneous program subcontractors. Administrative fees for services were 984 for miscellaneous admin help. Fundraising fees for services were 5299 for catering, photography, graphic design misc.”

“Form 990 Review Process - The 990 is approved by the Board of Directors prior to filing at a regular Board meeting.”