HUERTA VALUES

RESPECT​

The most important aspect of any relationship. We practice respect by recognizing and trusting those who have taken on leadership roles, keeping in mind that we can all be leaders. We will be in total communication with one another as well as with our neighbors and all community members, to extend our respect beyond the walls of the garden. We practice respect through good communication: giving each person sufficient time and space to share their ideas and by listening. We will open our minds to new ideas, our arms to give support, and our hearts to sympathize with our neighbors. We respect each other even when we disagree. We try to discuss difficult subjects openly, calmly, and to treat them as learning opportunities. When there are conflicts we can’t resolve on our own, we bring them to the garden manager or another designated facilitator.

 JUSTICE

Food justice is communities exercising their right to grow, sell and eat healthy food. Healthy food is fresh, nutritious, affordable, culturally appropriate and grown locally with care for the well being of the land, workers and animals. People practicing food justice leads to a strong local food system, self-reliant communities and a healthy environment.  Food Justice is part of the struggle for human rights and we recognize that all struggles for human rights are connected and we are open to working to bring justice in all areas because a threat to justice somewhere is a threat to justice everywhere. In HdV justice is where all community members regardless of race, class, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, citizenship status, religion, language, educational background, age or ability can work, be leaders in driving the project can express their ideas and opinions so no one feels they don’t count or have a voice. Justice takes form in the love that drives us to make a difference in our community and to work together with our neighbors, friends and families.

SUPPORT​

 RESPONSIBILITY

Physical, emotional, and spiritual. We can count on other HdV members for support and we know they are counting on us. We offer help whenever necessary and cooperate with others, keeping in mind that we have the same goals. We want to see to it that our neighbors and friends are successful in their projects. We share our differences, stories and experiences in order to motivate others, learn about one another and build stronger relationships. The resources at the community garden site are shared amongst the gardeners including water, tools, and soil so that Huerta del Valle can support all of the people who work on the land.  If you bring your own resources you are welcome to share them, but you may also keep them to yourself. You are responsible for caring for your own plot and may make decisions about your plot, but can support others by caring for theirs when they cannot. Major decisions about the garden like building structures, or painting murals or making new garden agreements will be made at weekly HdV Committee meetings rather than individually.

Remember that we’re a family and the actions of one reflect the actions of all who are involved with HdV. We’re responsible for making sure that as a community we follow our values and we practice them. We respect the community and the land to build harmony in the garden. We will be humble in our actions—regarding other community members as equals in their ideas, intelligence, ability and dedication they bring to the project’s success. We take the time to recognize each other. We commit to expressing ourselves in a way that upholds our values. We are responsible for our garden plots and maintaining them.  If we cannot maintain them we ask others in the community for support, but will not leave them to dry out and die. If we do not maintain our plot and do not contact the garden manager for more than three weeks we recognize that our plot may be given to someone else.  We are responsible for protecting the garden and we will not grow plants in the garden that are illegal or will disturb the garden’s ecology, as this could put the entire project at risk.  We recognize that we cannot sell produce that we grow in the plots, but that we can share what we grow with family, friends, other gardeners and the community and in this way we share the responsibility of nourishing each other physically, emotionally, and spiritually with our care of this land.