Welcome to Sacto

Its the beginning of November and I've recently relocated to northern California, where I will spend a year as an Americorps VISTA volunteer, working at Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services. My job will involve the creation of SFBFS' community/demonstration garden, as well as teaching classes on gardening, cooking, and nutrition. I intend to document the process on this website, so stay tuned for photos!

For now, I am couchsurfing with a friend in the neighboring town of Davis (ie. "Ag Country"), getting to know the university, Cooperative Extension Unit, local resources and organizations, bike trails, thrift shops, food distribution centers, and general life of the area. And the weather (dear god, rain?? WTF is this?).

Some generally awesome things that have amazed me so far include:

Davis Bike Loop


A paved, 12 mile loop around the city; through parks, neighborhoods, tunnels, and generally car-free streets, courtesy Davis Bike Co-op.


Paths are labeled so you can't get lost!

Sunwise Co-op Gardens


Discovered while biking the Loop- neighborhood oasis of garden plots, bee boxes, trees, chickens, and what-have-you.


A whole neighborhood of public backyard gardens!

Food Not Bombs


Food Justice For All


Every Sunday at 1:00 in Central Park. Veggie and vegan-friendly, non-judgmental and open to all .

Saturday Farmers' Market in Central Park


Fresh and Local= Mire


Central Park is the place to be on Saturday mornings

Morning-ish until 1 pm, rain or shine. Glorious fruits and veggies from surrounding farms, accepting EBT tokens. Bonus: Central Park Gardens sells seed starters on the cheap, and the Master Gardeners have a booth/ host free workshops! I learned about some priiiteee rad houseplants (finally graduating beyond just the Pothos...) and couldn't help but buy a few!


Now all I need is a house for this Peace Lily...!


They say the Christmas season starts earlier and earlier every year... apparently with cactus too!


Central Park garden volunteers also teach workshops

Copenhaganized: a City of Bicycles


Roundabouts make bike traffic easy to navigate


There must be thousands on campus at all times! Plenty of bike racks, paths, and free repair stations.


Air? Pressure check? Tools?

Davis Domes


Opened in '72, these cooperative housing units are role models in living sustainably! Surrounded by their own gardens, communal areas, and practically on campus. Super cool.


Another view: Baggins Domes

The Wiki-leaks of Fun!

Wiki-Davis is the ultimate digital guide to all things Davis. Makes it so much easier for new residents like me to connect! Great resources for How to Live Without a Car, How to Eat for Free, and all sorts of Outdoor Activities