Eligibilty: A family is eligible if they receive Food Stamps, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families or qualify under Federal Income guidelines for free or reduced priced school meals.

In 2009 Huerto's programs served 53 families representing over 200 parents
and children

Huerto de la Familia offers four main services to participants:

• Garden Education and Access
  We offer organic gardening instruction to low-income Latino families and provide plants, seeds, gardening materials and subsidizes garden plots at two main sites: Churchill Community Garden and Skinner City Farm.
• Childrens Program
  We provide hands-on garden based educational activities to the children of participating families, including a Children’s Garden.
• Health Education and Food Preservation
  We offer one-time classes on health-related issues and food preservation.
• Small Farmers Project of Lane County
  Ten families are working in collaboration with Heifer International to create their own farm business growing mixed vegetables, black cap raspberies, and strawberries for sale; and to raise turkeys for their own use.

Garden:  Currently 50 families are participating at three garden locations:

 In Eugene

Churchill Community Gardens, 2200 Bailey Hill Rd.

Skinner City Farm, Cheshire

 In Springfield

Youth Farm, Flamingo Rd.

  Farm:  Additionally, 10 families have started a small farm, supported by Heifer International, at E. Beacon Dr, Eugene

What do families grow? 

Vegetables:   lettuce, spinach, peas, beans (green and dry), fava beans, radishes, carrots, beets, potatoes, onions, broccoli, zucchini, pumpkins, cucumbers, tomatoes, tomatillos, chilies, corn (for eating, masa, tamales, cane), jicama, chayote, garlic.

Fruits:  strawberries, melons, watermelons, raspberries, yerba mora berries.

Herbs/wild plants:  epazote, oregano, thyme, mint, chamomile, and other edible and medicinal herbs and flowers.

  How much did they grow in 2008? 

• Varies from garden to garden, depending on space, experience, what is grown.
• Families report harvesting from 25 to over 200 pounds of produce.  Several families report harvesting from 100 to 125 pounds of tomatoes and tomatillos.
• At minimum these families are saving $419 on these two crops alone.
• One family did not buy produce from August to October, canned 120 jars of tomatillos, and harvested over 200 pounds of food.