The Emma Prusch Farm Park is a 42-Acre farm park that was donated by Emma Prusch to the city of San Jose. It resides at 647 South King Road. You can see the farm from the 101-freeway ramp onto to 280/680-freeways. It is a great experience when you can give your family the experience of a farm in a big city. Engage the experience with kids as to what foods are from the farm and what nutritional value can be attached to those foods. Once kids realize the energy involved in farming, they will no sooner eat their fruits and vegetables, and they will want to grow them too.
The most impressive aspect of this farm is the "Accomplishments" listed on the farm's website: The Foundation has worked diligently in development of a Master Plan for the Park and back acreage, including restoration of the historical LeFevre home and carriage barn, installation of the windmill and planting a kitchen garden. Other accomplishments include:
• Since 1995, the Foundation has donated over $58,500 as scholarships for the Summer Camp Program, which includes environmental and agricultural education.
• Design and fund a Plant Science Center that includes a classroom, children’s community garden and green house.
• Planting and maintaining 168 redwood and maple trees along the west and northwest perimeters of the Park, dedicated as the Karl Schiavo Memorial Grove in 2007.
• Veggielution has started a Community Farm at the Park to engage local residents in food production and distribute food to those who need it. (www.veggielution.org)
The foundation has a number of ongoing projects that involve the local community. Consider engaging your kids in these projects.
- Emma's Garden is a garden containing a large variety of heirloom plants of German heritage. There is a large variety that you can find listed at the site.
- The Veggielution Community Farm is a nonprofit community farm that is create a sustainable food system in the city of San Jose and has about one acre of the Emma Prusch Farm to work on.
- Get involved with Veggielution by clicking on the link and discover what you and your family can accomplish through this incredible program.
- A favorite for me is the windmill named "Bella" at the farm. It is an aeromotor windmill that sits at the top of the original farm park. It is capable of pumping 3 gallons of water every minute. Windmills are an incredible source of energy; learn about the history of windmills to discover their abilities.
The farm offers classes for you and your family to engage in the website is showing one a month for the next few months:
- July 14 SOILS: Instructor Sharon McCray will help you determine which type of soil you have, how to improve it with amendments, compost or nutrients including cover crops. FEE
- August 18 BASIC CANNING: Instructors Dennis Norris and Sharon McCray will guide you in selecting vegetables for easy preservation with safety tips. The class will also touch on other means of food preservation including freezing and drying. FEE
- September 15 PICKLING: Instructor Sharon McCray and Dennis Norris will introduce upi to the wonderful world of pickling including cucumbers (pickles), beets and other garden fare. FEE
To register contact Prusch Farm Park at 408-794-6262
After school begins this Fall, you can make plans to visit this farm in October. In the month of October they will have a Harvest Fair and exhibition. This will be held on Saturday October 1, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. It is a wonderful time to take your family to the pumpkin patch, eat good food and enjoy the all day entertainment. There will be farm tours and a 4-H mega field day.
The admission is free.
For more information as the date comes near, please telephone: (408) 264-9654.
The best deal is that you can rent the farm for a family reunion, or company picnic; to find that information you will need to go the website for the City of San Jose.
Please take the time to explore your local community and the wonders it has to offer in educating you and your kids regarding this amazing farm in the middle of one of the largest cities in California.
