I was asked to shoot the New Roots Farm in City Heights, San Diego. New Roots Farm is a community farm that is divided in to parcels that are shared among the members. The majority of the people I met were from Somalia, Cambodia or Mexico now living in the City Heights neghborhood. The members are using the farm to grow food that their families will eat. Click the screenshot below to go to the story on the Inter Press Website. The story ended up running with no photos.

The farm is surrounded with a chain link fenced adorned with a welcome sign displaying the words "community farm" in 9 different languages.

 

The farm is nestled in the middle of a residential neighborhood and a busy street.

 

Many of the members live within walking distance of the farm.

 

Teens arriving at the farm. I later found out many of them are required to go to the farm by their parents.

 

There are two stuctures on the farm. One for shade with a picnic table underneath and a shed for storing the tools.

 

Many of the members arrived at the farm straight from work.

 

Water is provided by the city for the farm.

 

A lot of the kids had their own plots as well as their families plots.

 

At first these guys did not want anything to do with me, but eventually warmed up.

 

This guy had the most successful plot of all and received a lot of attention because of it.

 

Here are some of his crops.

 

These Somali girls told me that their parents make them come to the farm. The photo on the left is a favorite. She had some serious attitude.

 

Old meets new.

 

When I asked the Somali girls what they thought of the Cambodians they told me, "they are gross, they eat octopus!"

 

The guys taking a break from work while they flirt with the girls.

 

Some faces of the farm. On the right is Hamadi Jumale. He is the spokesperson for the Bantu-Somali Community Organisation in San Diego.

 

These guys were digging irrigation holes with a metal spike that he is pointing at me right here.

 

Relaxing

 

These are the two comedians of the farm. The guy on the left was planting seeds with his feet in his parcel. On the right is the same guy who ponted the spike at me. After this shot he pointed that knife at me.

 

Texting break.

 

Dusk at the farm.

 

Young corn

 

Goodbye from the farm.