People: Amy Wright -- Creating a garden at Haven House People: Amy Wright -- Creating a garden at Haven House (February 01, 2006)

She is honored for starting organic garden at family shelter

By Marion Softky

Almanac Staff Writer

On a misty Saturday morning 15 or 20 moms and kids of all sizes are out planting and harvesting vegetables in the lush organic garden beside Shelter Network's Haven Family House in Menlo Park.

Kids are planting peas and patting frizzy baby kale plants into the soft black soil. Others are washing radishes and plopping them in plastic bags -- 12 to a bag -- for distribution to residents.

Several mothers are carefully cutting crisp leaves of chard, while older boys rake leaves off the paths between the stone planting beds.

A toddler in a woolly gray hat holds up a trowel occupied by two wriggling pink creatures. "Worms!" he announces proudly.

Welcome to the New Beginnings Garden, which provides fresh organic fruits and vegetables along with fruitful activities for the homeless families who are rebuilding their lives at Haven Family House.

Amy Wright, who conceived, organized and operates the garden, is being honored as a community visionary by Sustainable San Mateo County, an organization that promotes a healthy economy and environment along with social equity in the county.

Five years ago, Ms. Wright, a Sunnyvale resident who was working in marketing and communications for a Silicon Valley company, decided to change careers. "I wanted to use my same skills and be of more use to the local community," she says.

Ms. Wright is now assistant development director for Second Harvest Food Bank.

Two years ago, Ms. Wright toured Haven Family House while she was working as a volunteer for Shelter Network, which operates several programs for the homeless in San Mateo County.

The quarter-acre of weeds beside the recently rebuilt shelter called out to her. "I got the idea that we could have a garden and grow fresh food for residents," she says.
Community effort

Ms. Wright swung into action. She tapped into the network of garden businesses and obtained advice and donations from the likes of Sunset, Lyngso Garden Materials, Ewing Irrigation, and some landscaping firms.

Gary Webb of the Webb Ranch plowed the weed patch. "He drove the tractor all the way over here, God bless him," she says. "He'll be back this summer to plant corn. He's interested in hiring people from Shelter Network to work at the farm stand."

The award announcement stated, "Her persistence has netted more than $90,000 in in-kind donations and more than 900 volunteer hours.

"This is a huge project. It really brings people together," says Ms. Wright. "Residents like to come out and look at the garden and relax."

In addition to the work of the residents, the garden still needs -- and gets -- a lot of volunteer help from individuals and organizations.

"It's a young garden. There's always a lot of work to do," Ms. Wright says. "We're always looking for people to volunteer. We're always looking for a master gardener."

Anyone interested in volunteering should call Lynnelle Bilsey of Shelter Network at 685-5887.

Group honors community visionaries

Sustainable San Mateo County will honor community visionaries at a dinner Thursday, February 16, at the Clarion Hotel in Millbrae, with state Sen. Joe Simitian as master of ceremonies.

The awards recognize people and organizations that have demonstrated innovative thinking and actions that sustain healthy communities on the Peninsula.

Besides Amy Wright, the winners this year are:

** Sue Lempert, who has worked as a member of the San Mateo City Council and other agencies to promote policies that enhance the economy in balance with social equity and environmental conservation.

** The Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center, which helps groups and individuals resolve conflicts in a peaceful manner.

** Applied Biosystems, which has exceeded its requirements for reducing hazardous waste, and carried out an extensive energy management program.

Honorable mention goes to:

** The Marine Science Institute, which runs cruises on San Francisco Bay that educate students about the natural environment.

** Arthur and Elena Court and Arthur Court Designs, makers of serving ware and decorative accessories, for their outstanding contributions to conservation and environmental causes.

The 2005 Green Building Award goes to the interior remodel of the Sugen Laboratory, designed by DES Architects and Engineers and built by XL Construction.

Honorable mention in this category is awarded to "Green Sanctuary," a straw-bale yoga studio in Pacifica.

Tickets to the February 16 dinner and auction are $75 each.

For information or reservations call 638-2323, e-mail advocate@sustainablesanmateo.org, or visit sustainablesanmateo.org.

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