According to headlines: The world is ablaze. Sea levels are rising. Storms and droughts are becoming more severe. The Arctic is warming four times faster than the rest of the world.

In Arleta, a small group of people at Shift Our Ways (SOW) Collective are standing up to these monumental problems—one household at a time, one garden at a time and one compost heap at a time.

The idea for SOW Collective came about when four women sat down in March 2020 to discuss what they could do together to make the world a better place.

“Our intention was that Shift Our Ways Collective would serve as an environmental nonprofit serving a community plagued by pollution and offer an educational platform making sustainability accessible to all backgrounds,” says Stephanie Gomez, one of SOW’s four founders. “We talked about climate change around us. We discussed the importance of green spaces, regenerative agriculture and environmental education and stewardship amongst the next generation.”

Gomez, with co-founders Madison Jaschke, Haley Feng and Christina Jimenez, came up with the idea of creating a micro farm/garden in the middle of Arleta, where Gomez lives, that would be the center of an effort to reduce food production waste by encouraging neighbors to grow their own gardens, and to share the food.

“We ensured our micro farm would be as lowwaste as possible, starting with cutting out plastic packaged soil,” says Gomez. “It serves as a space that diverts food waste and provides a circular approach to our food system, as we grow, harvest and compost food all in one location.”

“We feel there should be more of an emphasis on how food is produced, and how backyard sharing pilot programs lead to more sustainable communities,” Gomez says. “Carbon sequestration is only one huge reason why we should focus on more micro farming in our backyards, as it also correlates to less water runoff, as we are able to build healthier soil through urban farming. That’s why we’re doing this.”

The 5,500-square-foot garden at 13625 Sunburst St., Arleta, not only provides up to two pounds of free produce for community members (upon registration to the Community Harvest list), it’s a gathering place.

“At the garden, we have focused on bringing the community together through cultural and educational workshops. We have an emphasis on intergenerational programming, including Get Out & Garden [program], which promotes edible gardening amongst youth and their grandparents, along with our For Neighbors program that provides free plant starts and resources to encourage neighbors to grow their own gardens. We have hosted numerous donation-based events such as open mics, community cleanups, yoga at the farm, clothing swaps, fruit shares and field trips for surrounding schools,” says Gomez. “Our backyard farm is also our Eco-Hub, as we facilitate dialogue around sustainability and how we may already be integrating more low-waste practices into our daily lives.”

SOW Collective serves as one of three Valley co-ops for LA Compost. The garden manages the three-bin composting system with the support of LA Compost and SOW volunteers.

They started the program during the height—or depths—of the pandemic. Gomez said people had decidedly mixed reactions to masked and gloved people knocking on their door. She said many people wouldn’t even answer the door to them. Over time, neighbors have come to know the volunteers, and the SOW volunteers are able to give people plants and information, as well as invite them to SOW events at the garden. Neighbor Jacky Lomeli found SOW when she needed help properly disposing of her Halloween pumpkins, and she decided to become a volunteer. Lomeli said she was part of the team that distributed the plants in the Arleta area.

“I did volunteer to do that during the pandemic. And there was another person with a mask pulling the wagon with plants,” says Lomeli, adding that the timing was a perfect way to start a neighborhood conversation about growing and sharing your own food.

“It’s a way to engage when you’re at home [during lockdown]. You’re outside relaxing and thinking about things like your garden space, or lack of. To have people come by and say, ‘Here’s a basil or a flower. Plant it.’ It’s kind of genius in that sense to reach so many,” Lomeli says.

Currently, SOW is largely funded by Patreon sponsors. Patreon allows clients to create a subscription service to raise money.

• For more information about SOW, visit Instagram, @sow.collective; Facebook, @shiftourways; and YouTube, SOW Collective.