- Welcome to "Inland Edition," where this season we're having conversations with people who represent nonprofit organizations working to make the Inland Empire a better place.

My name is Joe Richardson.

[light background music] I'm a local attorney, Inland Empire resident, and your host.

And today, we're going to chat with Maria Alonso, the founder and director of Huerta del Valle.

Huerta del Valle is a nonprofit network of urban farms and community gardens working to provide organic produce for local communities.

Their mission is to build one garden every mile, by teaching the next generation of organic farmers how to manage their collective gardens.

They envision a future where fresh, local, and sustainably produced food is available to everyone in the Inland Empire.

Motivated by her son's ADHD diagnosis, and the subsequent choice of administering drugs or changing his diet, Maria Alonso decided to change his diet.

But after discovering the expense of organic food, she began working with Pitzer College's sustainability program, the City of Ontario, and Kaiser Permanente, to not just promote food justice, but to actually find ways to grow nutritious, healthy, affordable food in the Inland Empire.

Let's meet her now, and learn more about how Huerta del Valle is affecting our everyday community.

[soft piano music] ♪ [gentle upbeat music] ♪ ♪ ♪ - [Joe] So, I am proud to welcome Maria Alonso, of Huerta del Valle to "Inland Edition."

Thank you so much for being here.

- Thank you, Joe, for invited to this event.

You know, to this edition.

- You still-?

- I'm very proud because, you know?

There has the opportunity where the chair that work with my community for me is very proud.

Thank you for this invitation.

- Oh, great.

So, when we set the cameras all up for you, we worked extra hard on it today!

- Yes!

- So, let's talk a little bit, just kind of about your background.

And, what we wanna do is, we wanna get to the point where you create this amazing organization.

So, let's start with your background a bit.

What can you tell us?

- Yes.

You know?

Well, you said, my name is Maria Alonso.

I come from Mexico in 1989.

- Right.

- And, I-- Mother for three childs.

- Right.

- And, you know, working in many, many things.

You know, clean the restrooms; many things.

But in 2010, I received the diagnostic with my son.

And, this is the reason and my inspiration for Huerta del Valle Community Garden.

- Right.

- Because I need the healthy foods for my son, and for my husband too, and myself.

- Right.

- Because there has the opportunity, that produce organic, local.

In this case, I-- very proud because if in 2010, I don't receive that diagnostic with my son, I think never.

- Right.

So, they give him a diagnosis.

Tell us about that.

Was it ADHD?

I think I did some studying and figured that out.

They said ADHD, or they said he had some condition or something, right?

- Yes.

It's that condition.

You know, for my son, there has the problems with put attention in the class.

- [Joe] Right, sure.

- And, don't all the time makes anything, but don't put attention.

And the grades is down, down, down.

In this case I say, "What do I need?

I need something."

But in 2010, I received this diagnostic.

- So, you decide, "I'm gonna take this into my own hands and do everything that I can do."

Right?

Now, did they try to put him on medication?

- No.

- [Joe] Okay.

- This is the reason, you know, my inspiration for this.

Because I talking with a psychiatric and say, "What's the reason he drink that medicine when he has only 10 years?"

- Right.

- And, the doctor say, you know, "The reason is because right now when you "thinking about to consume it, very good benefits in your body."

You know, "The producer that come to miles and miles for your store, and when you eat, you eat garbage."

And, this is the first time I listen to "garbage", and say, "Garbage, what is-?"

Because all that time I say "Trash, trash.

The trash."

He said, "Garbage," and I say, "What's garbage?"

And, he say, "Oh!

OK, OK.

I understand."

- [Joe] Right, right!

(chuckles) - Yes, there has a sense.

Because, right now I have more knowledge to the organic produce.

There has the benefits.

And when you could, for example, this produce?

That's harvest today, this morning.

But, if you can taste it now.

- Right.

- You can taste it, that complete flavor.

- Right.

- But later, the-- after five days you can try it again, this produce, and the flavor is different.

- Right, right.

So, you decided that in order to eat healthy quality food for your family and for your community, that you would actually have to make it, help make it happen yourself.

- Yes.

Because, you know, I think "How many Marias stay outside with the same need to myself?"

- [Joe] Right.

- Say "I think this "is big opportunity because who has the opportunity for eating this produce?"

- Right.

- The person that has the money?

- Right.

- And, has the opportunity for buy?

- Right.

- And now, I say, "Mm?

This is very good point for bring to this resource in the community."

And then, when I grow, when I have the first person there support to this is the city, Ontario.

- [Joe] Right.

City of Ontario.

- The city.

- So, it's an Inland Empire business and Inland Empire nonprofit, right?

- [Maria] Yes.

- [Joe] Huerta del Valle, which is, do-- we said the Orchard-?

- [Maria] Orchard Empire.

- [Joe] The Inland Orchard!

- [Maria] Orchard, yes.

Inland Orchard.

- [Joe] That's Inland Orchard.

Huerta del Valle is in Spanish but in English is "Inland Orchards."

- [Joe] Orchards.

Gotcha!

OK. Now, you had never created an organization before.

Right?

How did you get started?

- You know, now I explain and I speak a little English!

(Joe laughs) But, you know, when I started, I don't speak nothing English.

- Really?

- It's a lot of challenge for myself.

- Sure.

- That technology, that the language; When somebody come, say "Oh, bye!"

And when they're leaving, "Oh, hi!"

- [Joe] Right!

- Say, "No!"

(Joe laughs) - But, right now, I laughing the same to you because say "Wow, I growing with together with Huerta del Valle.

- [Joe] Right.

- The mission for the organization is growing the vegetables and fruits.

Organic; don't use the pesticides and herbicides.

And, the same area made the fertilizing for the produce.

- [Joe] Wow.

- It's very, very important, you know, there make this message for many person.

Because you can eat to the stores, yes, but you can put your money right now in the healthy food- - Right.

- Or, later in the hospital.

- Right!

- Because, the consequence is later for the long-term.

- And so, I think it's important to talk about this.

I was talking to your friend backstage here, and one of the things that she mentioned to me is that "you gotta understand that Maria comes from a background" where you didn't get medicine, right?

- No.

- So, you had to do things other ways.

And so, now they come to you and tell you that your son has this problem.

And, he's 10 years old at the time?

- Now-- He's 10 years old when he received the diagnosis.

- [Joe] At the time.

- Right now, he is 23 years old.

- [Joe] Right, right.

- And, I very proud for him.

- Right.

- And, he say, "I very proud for you, Mom."

- [Joe] Right.

- Because, you know, you make the Huerta del Valle for myself, for- - [Joe] Right.

- I need the healthy food.

- [Joe] Right.

- And, right now, I recognize when I eat...fat food?

- Right.

- [Maria] To healthy food.

- Right.

- I recognize when I eat bad food, I don't sleep, and my thinking is very bad, terrible.

- Right.

- But, when I eat healthy food.

- Right.

- I stay very relaxed, and think very positive.

And I say, (Maria clapping) - [Joe] Right!

- "Thank you.

Thank you, son."

Because, this is my goal.

This is my best check!

- It's one thing to do something for your son and for your family, but how does it go to you doing something for the entire community and creating an organization?

How did you do that?

- It's a lot of support.

Many, many peoples there come to support to Huerta.

When I started, I started in October 2010.

- Right.

- In 2011, one professor-?

That Susan Phillips, she's a professor for Pitzer College.

They come with a program, Pitzer in Ontario.

And then, come to myself and say, "Maria, I have the support for you.

"Casa Pitzer in Ontario there has the students there "to come with you and support for growing the organization."

- Wow.

- And, there help me with another connection, you know?

The school for urban, that allow us, the school?

- Right.

- There is support to myself for make that the organization nonprofit.

- [Joe] Right.

- It's a lot of people, you know?

- Right.

- I-?

30 minutes is short (Joe laughs) for announce, you know, for many, many peoples.

- So, tell me about how you go about-- I listed-- saw on your information, you do "community gardens and urban farms."

I think that that's how it's described.

Tell me about that.

Are they the same thing?

Are they different?

And, how do you figure out where they're gonna be created?

- Yes.

The community garden is because there has the community garden and urban farm because there has the divided the four acres in different areas.

- [Joe] Okay.

- [Maria] One area is for community garden when you can come and you has interest, your plot take 10' by 20'.

- [Joe] Right.

- [Maria] And, you grow in your vegetables in plots.

- [Joe] Oh, wow.

So, they have their own plots!

- [Maria] Yes.

- [Joe] Gotcha.

- You can get your plot and you can grow in, do your responsibilities, take care of your plot.

- Right.

- And then, growing just your vegetables, but Huerta del Valle supply with composting.

- [Joe] Right.

- If it has grant, support with seeds, or any concern, any knowledge.

If you don't have a knowledge, Huerta del Valle support with this about to the farmers.

- Wow.

- That urban farm is because the section is intensive area.

In the intensive area there has, Huerta del Valle has employees for the farmers.

And then, grow in these areas for put the market every Wednesday and Saturdays, 9 AM to 10 PM.

And, put the stand over here and sell the produce.

- Do you have plans for, like, other areas where you want to have land to do some similar things?

Like, you've got four locations now.

Right?

- Yes.

- How-?

You know, are you looking in other places in terms of adding other pieces of land where you can do more of what you're doing in the first four places?

- Now, I put the plants in Ontario and I distribute to the different location.

- Right.

- But, the plants there put the seeds; and then when the plant is growing they're transplanting to different places.

- Right.

- But now, I don't stay ready for getting more lands.

It is-- No, it's a lot of work.

And, I don't have a lot of employees.

- Yeah!

I was gonna ask you, how much help do you have?

- Now, I have three farmers.

- [Joe] Okay.

- Three farmers, one bookkeeper, and one education coordinator.

- Okay.

- And, one social media coordinator.

- Okay, wow.

So, can anyone decide that they wanna be a farmer or, you know, take the program?

Where do your students, your potential farmers, where do they come from?

- Okay.

I have a lot of support in this case.

You know, the University of La Verne.

- Okay!

University of La Verne, okay.

- To enter to the organization.

- [Joe] Okay.

- And, Pitzer College.

- Pitzer College, too.

Wow.

- Yes.

Come to the internship.

They're coming for six months, and then have some focus to this project to this semester.

If you don't finish, I come to the next interns.

- Right.

- They finish the project, but there has the support with interns.

They come to make-?

120 hours.

- [Joe] Wow.

- Every semester.

- Really?

- And, I have sometimes nine students, three students.

- [Joe] Right.

- Not less than three students.

- Wow.

- Three interns.

- [Joe] Wow.

- And, there has that different, you know, abilities.

- Right.

- In the students?

- Sure.

- There has them focus to this.

- Right.

- Maybe somebody, say, student for "architect?"

You know, the design!

Make a design for this project; da da da.

- Right!

Okay, sure.

- One person there has them focus to "economy?"

You can come and support to the bookkeeper.

Come on!

- [Joe] Right.

- You can tell me this and this.

This is the support for the organization in this case.

- You must, doing what you do, you must see this need for fresh food, fresh produce in the community.

Like, there aren't as many stores that have fresh food.

Things without preservatives or pesticides, and things like that.

I imagine this has made you more aware of the fact that there's not a lot of "this" in the community!

- [Maria] Yes.

The vision for the organization is growing "One Garden Every Mile."

- [Joe] Right.

- You know, because hopefully there-- one day there has that opportunity see this location.

- Right.

- But, right now, there has that inspiration for another gardens, you know?

For example, Ontario?

There has that Joy Garden?

It's inspiration for Huerta del Valle.

- Wow.

- And, another-?

In San Bernardino, the Healthy Garden is Loma Linda running this garden.

- Oh, wow.

- I started with this garden at Tippecanoe and Third?

- Right.

- I started with this, but now Loma Linda running this garden.

- Really?

- And, this is very important, you know?

Because if I have one garden every mile, you know, everybody there has that access to this.

- Sure, sure.

- This produce.

- Oh, that's a great go.

What is the hardest thing about, the most difficult thing about what you're trying to do about the organization?

- For my experience, you know, is the woman.

It's hard for myself.

- Wow.

- When somebody see, only because it's woman.

- [Joe] Really?

- Is Latina, you know?

- Right.

Sure.

- It's a lot of-?

- Wow.

- Close the door.

But, I say "Don't worry."

You know?

- Right.

- I'm working and I say, "I don't make this organization for put my money in my pocket."

- Right, right.

- I create this organization for the members in the community there has this resource.

So, I don't worry if you close this door, other doors opening.

You see?

- Right.

- I stay opening to this.

But it's hard, you know, when it's Latin, is Hispanic.

- [Joe] Right.

- Is...don't speak English.

- [Joe] Wow.

- And then, don't have the technology.

- Right.

- It's a lot of challenge, but all the time I say "Don't worry".

You know, if you can do it, you going.

In this case, all the time I say is "Any work is hard.

- [Joe] Right.

- Any work, you know?

"But, when you have more work and more heavy, it is more value.

- Right.

- Because you can go outside to the comfort.

The sun?

So, you know, it's okay.

It's going.

But, when it's-- sometimes it's hard, you know, it's more valued your work.

- So, it sounds great coming from you and may sound okay coming from me, but we're gonna talk to both a volunteer and a farmer who have direct experience with working with this organization.

Take a look.

[light upbeat music] ♪ - Hi.

I'm Millie Brown, and I am both a member here at the garden who has a plot, but I also love the garden so much that I volunteer, as well.

I come every single morning, almost like my space for meditation before I start the day.

I wanted to create this plot as an homage to my mom who passed away last year.

And so, what...I'm-?

My family's from Puerto Rico.

And so, what I tried to do was to create a plot where things that we eat in Puerto Rico and can't find locally that I would grow them here.

Just not having all of those pesticides and all of that in the dirt knows that you're kind of, like, eating something healthy.

And, also you see a lot of people in Puerto Rico with diabetes and all of these other types of diseases that I feel like that organic concept is really, really important.

But it's just been a wonderful experience, not just to be able to grow here, but all of the wonderful people that are within my own community that I've met.

I've always worked from home.

So I don't really, like, have that option of meeting a lot of people.

And, the people here are so kind.

If you don't know how to grow something, there's always somebody to educate you on how to do it and how to do it well.

And the people share, and just having, like, that environment of a whole community of gardeners.

I mean, gardeners are kind people, for the most part.

You know, I mean everybody here is.

And so, I'm just really fortunate to have found this.

- [Andres] Soy agricultor.

Estoy encargado de aquí, del sitio de Huerta del Valle.

Yo no conocía nada de lo que hago ahorita aquí.

Todo lo que he aprendido lo aprendí aquí en Huerta del Valle.

Pues lo que hago es sembrar y también estoy encargado de la composta.

Aquí adentro del invernadero lo que hacemos es continuamos sembrando lo que es del verano, porque ya cuando llega el frío, en invierno, ya no se da afuera.

El invernadero produce calor y la planta eso es lo que le jala, le gusta ese, ese calor y por eso crece.

Planto aquí como por ejemplo lechugas y crecen mas rápido.

Cada lunes damos donación, los vegetales es prácticamente es es gratis.

Y eso es lo que Huerta hace con la comunidad, ayudar a las personas.

Eso me da mucho, me da como energía para seguir mas sembrando.

- I'm Sofia Powers.

I go to Pitzer College, and I'm an intern at Huerta del Valle.

We do a lot of research at Pitzer.

So, I've been specifically trying to do research in seeing how to connect the surrounding community to see how they can get engaged in our upcoming compost program.

We made about 157 tons of compost this year, and they need homes.

So, we're looking for people who are willing to bring their scraps, take compost home, get involved in Huerta more.

And, I've always known about Huerta.

It's one of the reasons why I actually went to Pitzer is to, I'm-- I study food systems.

So, I knew that I was going to intern here at some point.

I think the most important thing that Huerta does, I think as you can tell, there's [plane engine roaring] the airport nearby.

It started as-- historically known for agriculture, but now has become kind of, like, [rooster crowing] a warehouse hotspot, and Huerta's vision is to see a community garden every mile.

So, kind of bringing fresh, healthy, accessible, and affordable food, and also, like, culturally appropriate food to the community.

[rooster crowing] It's bringing people together and farming.

It's giving people fresh food.

It's also combating the heavy pollution and just dreariness that corporations and warehouses have created.

And I think, like, there's nothing more important.

[light upbeat music] ♪ - [Joe] So, let me ask you a question.

At the risk of asking something that is-- maybe all of us ought to know, should know, but we don't.

Would you tell us what produce we actually have here?

Like, what is everything?

I know these are strawberries.

- Yes!

- Right?

Cabbage.

- Yes.

- Uh?

Radish?

- Radish.

- [Joe, high voice] Oh!!

Good!

- The bravo radish.

- Right.

OK, good!

And these are what?

Grains, or-?

- Kale.

- OK, kale.

- Kale.

- OK. Yeah, right!

Great.

Carrots, I see.

- Carrots.

- Now, are these greens?

- This is romaine lettuce.

- Romaine lettuce.

- [Maria] Romaine lettuce.

- OK, fantastic.

And, what else am I missing here?

- The purple is...kohlrabi.

- OK.

Uh?

OK?

Not cauliflower?

- No, kohlrabi.

- OK, OK. - Kohlrabi.

- OK. - And, the other is bok choy.

- OK. Oh, wow!

OK. - But, in this corner there has the sweet chards.

- Really?

- Yes.

- Oh, gosh.

So, that's some of everything.

And these are all grown on your properties, right?

- This is part of the grown.

- Right.

- Because this growing many, many things as broccoli, fava beans.

- [Joe] Broccoli.

- [Maria] Beets, plums, pomegranate, bananas.

- Really?

- [Maria] Yes.

It's many, many things.

- [Joe] My broccoli is my thing!

I wish you would've brought some broccoli, but-!

- [Maria] Yes!

And, celery.

(Joe laughs) - [Joe] Right, celery.

OK. Great.

- [Maria] Celery.

- [Joe] Any green onions?

- [Maria] Green onions.

Yes, yes.

- [Joe] Really!

- [Maria] And, purple onions.

- [Joe] So, wow.

- [Maria] And, yellow onions.

- [Joe] Really?

- [Maria] Potatoes.

- [Joe] OK. - [Maria] Sweet potatoes.

- [Joe] Sweet potatoes.

- [Maria] It's a lot production, yes.

- Wow.

Fantastic.

- [Maria] Only do you know they're very import-- - [Joe] Right.

OK. - This season.

- Right.

- [Maria] This is the production for the season.

- Right.

- This is the reason there has mature because this season is more to vegetables.

- Right.

- And, the next season there comes the fruits, you know?

- Right.

- Guavas, pomegranates?

- OK. - Yeah.

But, now it's a little short for fruits.

- OK. Maria, thank you so much for coming and for talking about your wonderful organization.

We appreciate it.

- Thank you for the invitation.

And all the time I say, "Huerta del Valle is your home."

Welcome, everybody.

I don't forget, you know, the events for Huerta del Valle.

If you can see the website, you can go to register for volunteer, for the CSA program, for the marketing.

Any information you can go to that website.

- Thank you.

- Thank you so much.

- Well, we've had a great time, and we did it again!

What was that?

We highlighted one more life-changing organization.

Please continue to join us on "Inland Edition" while we highlight these wonderful organizations like this one, and we continue to move down the road, one conversation at a time.

Until then, I'm Joe Richardson.

See ya next time.

[uplifting music and vocals] ♪ ♪ ♪ [softer music and vocals] ♪ ♪ ♪ [music fades]