Tucked behind an unassuming house on the cool, tree-lined Woodland Avenue in East Palo Alto, the bounty of Collective Roots Community Garden has never been limited to what grows in its plots. It’s a place where novice gardeners learn alongside seasoned growers, sharing knowledge through composting, native plant workshops, and hands-on experiences. Through these skill-building opportunities and shared space, Collective Roots has nurtured connections between neighbors and their food and fostered resilience and belonging rooted in culture, care, and community.
“It’s so important to spend time in spaces like this. Just look at the people we meet, the flowers we grow, and the experiences we share,” said Judy Curtis, a Community Garden Ambassador, during the last official Fresh Approach event at the Woodland Avenue location. “This place is magic.”
This farewell marked the closing of a chapter, as the garden prepares to relocate just around the corner to a new site near the East Palo Alto shoreline. The new site will be just a stone’s throw away from the East Palo Alto Community Farmers’ Market—which Fresh Approach started and operates—deepening the garden’s connection to local, community-led food access.
Rooted in History
East Palo Alto has long faced systemic barriers to food access. Once a thriving agricultural hub, the city lost much of its farmland in the post-WWII era and has since been labeled a food desert. In 2012, journalist Holly J. McDede of KALW’s Crosscurrents chronicled the emergence of Collective Roots as a grassroots response—an effort to reclaim food sovereignty through hands-on education and community connection.
What began with small garden plots, workshops, and a flock of chickens named after First Ladies became a hub for multigenerational learning and local leadership. “The common thread is gardening, growing things, sharing ideas, sharing seeds,” said founding director Kris Jensen at the time.
Lucia Porta, one of many dedicated gardeners, reflected on the garden’s spirit:
“Everyone here—Christina, Vera, all the girls and boys—are so friendly… Nature is the home of everyone. There are no borders, no races—we work together for good ideas.”
One woman shared how her mother, a resident since 2007, finds joy and purpose among the plants. “She doesn’t go out much, but she loves coming here… It’s been so special to see her wake up excited to tend her garden.”
The Next Chapter
Now, although Collective Roots is moving—its heart, spirit, and purpose are coming too.
“We’re definitely looking forward to what’s next,” said Anthony Otonari, Fresh Approach’s Community Garden Program Specialist. “It’s a little bittersweet to leave this space, but we’re excited to see what’s on the horizon.”
The new site promises healthy soil, abundant sun, and plenty of room to expand. It will allow Fresh Approach to deepen its place-based work with expanded plots, culturally relevant workshops, and opportunities for more community members to grow.
For Andy Ollove, who witnessed the 2018 merger of Collective Roots with Fresh Approach, the garden symbolizes a shift toward deeper connection:
“Before, our work was mostly mobile farmers’ markets. Gaining this garden space allowed us to dig in—literally—and root our work in place-based connection. Even though we now work across the East Bay and even statewide, the heart of our programs is right here.”
As the garden enters its next season, Fresh Approach invites the community to stay connected, dig deeper, and dream bigger.
Because the seeds of this garden were always meant to travel.
