In the Fall of 2023, the SLLC welcomed a new cohort of Sacramento Valley College Corp Fellows, who are aiding in the construction of paths, patio spaces, and general upkeep and stewardship of our property. Through the #CaliforniansForAll College Corps program, students engage with community-based programs focused on K-12 education, climate action, or food insecurity. Fellows are matched with hosts through the program and earn a living stipend upon completion of 450 hours. To learn more about the SVCC program, click here. 

The SVVC Land Stewardship Fellows consists of 11 students. They were invited to share their stories below: 

 

Joy Adeyemo

Hello, SCHA and SLLC community! I'm Joy Adeyemo, I’m a food justice initiative intern at your service. I am from Sacramento, I'm majoring in Biochemistry and molecular biology at the moment. My passion for land stewardship stems from a deep respect for the environment and a desire to contribute to its well-being. I was also inspired to join SLLC because of my cultural background of cultivating fresh produce as well as my desire to indulge myself in something that puts me outdoors. Since joining, I've immersed myself in various cultivation projects, finding particular joy in sustainable gardening initiatives. The collaborative spirit here has been transformative, fostering my growth both professionally and personally. Excitedly, I look forward to contributing to upcoming projects that promote ecological balance and community engagement. As I continue my journey, I aim to refine my skills in sustainable practices and enhance my understanding of local ecosystems. I am absolutely thrilled to be part of this vibrant community, and I'm eager to cultivate a greener, more sustainable future together.

 

Gwyn Azar

Hello, my name is Gwyn Azar and I am a second year Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning Major from Cupertino, in the South Bay Area. I am super grateful to have come upon this fellowship with SCHA, and for the opportunity to work with so many different projects and groups of people within the SLLC. I have wanted to get more involved with this area of campus since I came to Davis last year, after volunteering at work parties and attending a few events. I have thoroughly enjoyed learning the history of student leadership and interconnectedness of the SLLC (and am starting to be able to remember all the various acronyms!). So far I have learned so much on an emotional level about what it means for people to steward land, especially considering our role as students, who will be here temporarily and come from so many different places, all to come together to work with this land collaboratively. It has helped me feel so much more grounded and connected in community, and I am excited to keep learning hard skills like gardening, greenhouse management, and native plant ID, as well as the softer skills of what it means to work in community with each other and the ecosystems around us.

 

Christian Cisneros

 

 

Javier Damian Casillas

Hey there, SCHA/SLLC community! I'm Javier, a fourth-year plant science major from Wasco, California. As the greenhouse manager for the Food Justice Initiative, I've found my groove working in the community garden. It's been a hands-on journey into land stewardship, driven by a love for sustainable agriculture and community impact. Working on projects here has not only taught me a lot about sustainable land management but has also sharpened my leadership and teamwork skills. I'm pumped about upcoming initiatives that tackle food security and environmental awareness, and I’m looking forward to growing even more in this space!

 

Nala Haley

I’m Nala Haley, a 3rd year Landscape Architecture major from Los Angeles. After the positive experiences I had volunteering with SCHA in the years prior, I wanted to have the opportunity to work more with the community this year. Since I became a Land Steward, I’ve enjoyed having the opportunity to participate in hands-on gardening work, incorporating plants for unique plant design and learning more about California native species. I find that the beauty of working with plants is how they get better with time. Therefore I would love to have more chances in the future to initiate more planting projects. That way, others would be able to enjoy the long-term positive impact of our plants in the SCHA/SLLC spaces.

 

Jia Ying Li

Hello, my name is Jia Ying Li, and I am a land steward for the SCHA/SLLC. I am from the Bay Area, Oakland, and my major is Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning. I was drawn to Land Stewardship due to my interest in sustainable agriculture. I wanted to learn more sustainable farming methods where I could minimize my environmental impact and promote the long-term health of the land. I was always drawn to nature, as it gave me a sense of peace and fulfillment whenever I was working outside. So far, something that I've learned that fascinates me is tarping for occultation, where you cover the crops or weeds you are trying to get rid of with a black cover to reduce the amount of light reaching the weed seeds. This can prevent weeds from germinating on the plots. As a Food Access Coordinator, my role is to distribute food to the community, so I am excited to harvest the crops we personally grow when spring comes around. I have learned to be much more vocal about my access needs, and I hope to continue to obtain more knowledge about landscape design.

 

Jianhong Liang

I’m Jian and I’m switching my major to plant science. I’m from Los Angeles. I’m enjoying the process and the result of transforming an area to a small farm where we grow and harvest food or a native plant garden. I learned transplanting plants into the garden, weeding, and identifying native plants and weeds. I learned composting, different forms of mulching, using different types of gardening tools, and drip irrigation. I’m excited to help expand and maintain the FJI farm and learn to harvest the food. I’m excited about the accessibility project that connects the SLLC with accessible pathways. I’m also excited to help planting more native plants in the Hedgerow and by the Domes.

 

Maggie Lin

Hello! My name is Maggie Lin and I’m a land steward at SCHA/SLLC. I am currently a second year Neurobiology, physiology and behavior major and I'm from San Francisco. Before coming into SCHA, I didn't have much idea about land stewardship at all. However, through my time at SCHA, it has made me appreciate the effort it takes to work on the land and make it a safe place for everyone involved. The different aspects that go into stewardship such as the land itself, the plants around us, and being able to maintain the land around us, is all hard work. Currently one of the projects my group at SCHA is working on is flattening the land and making it accessible to those who are in wheelchairs! There are definitely still things I wish to learn, such as the plants around me and being able to identify natives versus non-natives. Additionally, I hope to learn more about the Earth around me as I continue to be a land steward!

 

Emily Neri

My name is Emily Neri and I am a second year International Relations major. I’m from San Luis Obispo County. I chose to pursue Land Stewardship because I have a strong interest in learning how to utilize nature’s resources in order to provide an abundance of vegetables and a variety of plants. Recently, I have learned how to plant beets, mixed greens, and snap peas. A project I am looking forward to this year is cleaning the greenhouse and redeveloping it. The goal is to make the greenhouse look and feel more hospitable for interns and community members. 

 

Andy Ramos

Hello, everyone, my name is Andy Ramos, and I am a Land Steward in association with SCHA/SLLC. I am from the Bay Area and came to UC Davis to major in Aerospace Engineering. I pursued to become a Land Steward to help my devotion to climate action and food insecurity. With this partnership/program, I met peers whose majors are involved in environmental science. The projects I have worked on so far are preparing gardens for planting, taking care of an orchard, learning materials for native plants, and collaborating with peers to plan for new planting. With all this in mind, I would like to improve my involvement in future planting as my knowledge about plants is limited.

 

Aurora Wilson Dominque

 

 

 

To stay updated on their future projects and other news follow the SVVC Land Stewardship Fellows on Instagram.