Acta Non Verba: Youth Urban Farm Project

What Acta Non Verba: Youth Urban Farm Project does

Acta Non Verba: Youth Urban Farm Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 45-0935667) founded in 2011 in Oakland, California, that operates urban farms and youth development programs targeting primarily Black and Brown Oakland youth and families. The organization stewards three farm sites totaling 1.875 acres across Oakland: ANV Farm @ Tassafaronga Park, West Oakland Farm Park (acquired via merger with City Slicker Farms in June 2023), and Wow Farm. Core programs include Camp ANV (seasonal day camps for ages 5-18 serving 200+ youth per summer), a free After School Program for K-8 students, the No Limit Leadership Program for high school students, and the BeetBox Community-Supported Agriculture program delivering produce from BIPOC and women-owned partner farms.

The business model combines earned revenue with philanthropic support across four streams: sliding-scale camp and program fees, recurring CSA subscription revenue (BeetBox Veggie, Fruit, and Combo Shares), individual donations and grants (including an active $250,000 annual fundraising campaign), and farm rental income. CSA proceeds are partially directed to youth educational savings accounts, embedding a wealth-building mechanism into the subscription model. The After School Program and No Limit Leadership Program are offered free of charge, with the "no child turned away for lack of funds" policy enforced organization-wide.

ANV is led by a new Executive Director, Leisel Whitlock Petersen, who succeeded founder Kelly Carlisle in March 2026. The organization distributes produce both commercially (via CSA) and at no cost (via the 24-hour Town Fridge at West Oakland Farm Park and the Town Fridge Collective mutual aid partnership). Marketing is community-led, relying on grassroots events, an Instagram presence of 6,248 followers, email newsletters, and word-of-mouth referrals rather than paid acquisition. The organization's competitive positioning rests on its BIPOC-led leadership, its integrated youth-development-plus-food-access mission, and its control of scarce urban farm land in Oakland.

Name

Acta Non Verba: Youth Urban Farm Project

Legal name

Acta Non Verba: Youth Urban Farm Project

Website

https://anvfarm.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Acta Non Verba is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates three Oakland urban farms and youth programs serving ~1,065 youth annually through camps, after-school, leadership training, and a BIPOC-sourced CSA subscription program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Urban agriculture and youth development programs

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Outdoor / Nature-Based Childcare Centers (EDACAAAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Outdoor / Nature-Based Before/After Care Programs (EDACAHAJ)

Keywords

• Youth urban farming
• Community-supported agriculture
• Food justice programs
• Youth leadership development
• Nonprofit education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakland Mills

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. CSA (BeetBox) Subscriptions: Community Supported Agriculture subscription boxes delivering fresh produce from ANV farms and partner farms (Women- and BIPOC-owned) to Oakland families. CSA profits support youth educational savings accounts.
2. Youth Programs and Camp Fees: Camp ANV and youth program enrollment fees. Sliding scale/scholarship model ensures accessibility - no child turned away for lack of funds.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, annual fundraisers (Camp for Grown Folx), and grant funding to support operations and scholarship funding.
4. Farm Rentals and Experiences: Revenue from farm rental experiences, field trips, and farm tours for community groups.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Acta Non Verba operates three urban farms across 1.875 acres in Oakland and delivers youth development and food access programs to Oakland families. Its core offerings are the BeetBox Community-Supported Agriculture subscription program (sourced from Women- and BIPOC-owned partner farms), the Camp ANV seasonal day camp for youth ages 5-18, a free After School Program for K-8 students, and the No Limit Leadership Program providing college/career readiness and urban farming curriculum for high schoolers. The organization also provides farm field trips, tours, volunteer days, and farm rentals.

Product overview

Acta Non Verba: Youth Urban Farm Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating a portfolio of urban farms and youth development programs in Oakland, CA. The organization manages three farm sites totaling 1.875 acres and serves approximately 1,065 youth annually. Its core offerings include the BeetBox Community-Supported Agriculture program (delivering produce from BIPOC-owned partner farms), Camp ANV (seasonal day camps for ages 5-18), the After School Program (K-8 enrichment), and the No Limit Leadership Program (high school workforce development). The organization also provides farm experiences, volunteer days, and farm rentals as supplementary engagement programs. In 2023, ANV expanded by becoming the steward of the West Oakland Farm Park (1.4 acres), previously operated by City Slicker Farms. Revenue supports youth educational savings accounts and program accessibility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BeetBox CSA: Community-Supported Agriculture program delivering fresh, sustainable produce from local Women- and BIPOC-owned farms to Oakland families.
• Camp ANV

Products and services

• BeetBox Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) A subscription-based CSA delivering fresh, sustainably grown produce from local Women- and BIPOC-owned partner farms to nourish Oakland families and support equitable food systems. Offers Veggie, Fruit, Half, and Combo Shares; CSA profits support youth educational savings accounts.
• Camp ANV Seasonal day camp for youth ages 5-18 (Spring Break, Summer, Fall, Winter) offering hands-on learning in farming, cooking, art, archery, dance, leadership, and outdoor exploration. Sliding-scale with a no-child-turned-away policy; serves 200+ youth each summer.
• After School Program Free K-8 after-school enrichment at ANV @ Tassafaronga Village providing homework support, literacy time, and rotating enrichment in gardening, art, STEM, cooking, leadership, and farm exploration.
• No Limit Leadership Program Free high-school program covering career development, life skills, restorative justice, and urban farming, with participation stipends, educational savings accounts, and Camp ANV employment pathways.
• Farm Experiences / Farm Visits Customized outdoor learning experiences for all ages through field trips, farm tours, and community volunteer days at ANV's three Oakland farm sites.
• Farm Rentals Rental opportunities at ANV's farm sites for private events and community gatherings.
• West Oakland Farm Park 1.4-acre working urban farm, educational space, and outdoor recreation site at 2847 Peralta St. Features community garden plots, demonstration kitchen, chicken coop, fruit orchard, outdoor classroom, and a 24-hour free fridge for food distribution.
• ANV Farm @ Tassafaronga Park One of three farms stewarded by ANV across 1.875 acres in Oakland, supporting youth programming and community food access.
• Wow Farm One of three farms stewarded by ANV across 1.875 acres in Oakland, supporting youth programming and community food access.
• Friends of the Farm Membership Membership program for supporters to stay connected with ANV's mission and receive updates on youth, farms, and community events.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30+ tons of organically grown produce distributed to East Bay communities in 2023
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• City Slicker FarmscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2023Organizational merger/collaboration where Acta Non Verba became the steward of the West Oakland Farm Park (1.4 acre urban farm). Expands ANV's footprint and provides a new location for Camp ANV and Youth Programming. Combines visions to create more opportunities for youth development, increase access to urban green space, and maintain long-term sustainable stewardship of the land.
• Growing Together (Pinole, CA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister Farm partner in the BeetBox CSA program. Bay Area organization that greens schoolyards and provides youth environmental education.
• Celio Farms (Gilroy, CA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCertified organic family farm in Gilroy, CA supplying berries to the BeetBox CSA program.
• Avalos Organic Farm (Hollister, CA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFarmer Efren has been a partner since the Phat Beets days. Manages organic farm in Hollister, CA supplying the BeetBox CSA.
• J&J Ramos Farm (Hughson, CA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily farm started in 1997 with 20 acres of cling peaches, now growing a variety of fruits and nuts. Supplies the BeetBox CSA program.
• J&M Farm (Maria Morales and Juan Silva)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFamily farm stewarding 15 acres in Gilroy, CA. ANV supported this farm during flooding rains by providing necessary supplies and ensuring farm income. Partnership exemplifies food sovereignty building through mutual support.
• Town Fridge CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMutual aid project started during COVID-19 to support food-insecure families in Oakland. ANV contributes space, electricity, and fresh produce to the 24-hour Free Fridge at West Oakland Farm Park. Rooted in tradition of people helping people without hierarchy or shame.
• Sacred Roots WellnessminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner hosting Sacred Seeds Summer Camp at West Oakland Farm Park. Heart-centered, nature-based herbal and yoga experience for children ages 5-10, now in its 5th season.
• De la CorazonminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorArchery club hosting events at West Oakland Farm Park, providing outdoor recreation activities for the community.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Dig Deep Farms: Alameda County-run social enterprise operating small urban farms in unincorporated areas to provide food access and transitional employment—comparable urban-agriculture + food-access mission in the same county.
• People's Grocery: Oakland-based food-justice nonprofit working to improve health and food access in West Oakland through community programming and a mobile market—same geography and overlapping food-access + community-development mission.
• Mandela Partners: Oakland-based nonprofit focused on food sovereignty, healthy corner-store conversions, and youth economic opportunity in West Oakland and surrounding neighborhoods—directly comparable geography, target community, and food-justice mission to ANV.
• Urban Adamah: Berkeley-based urban farm and Jewish educational nonprofit running farm-based youth programs, internships, and community food access on a multi-acre site—closely mirrors ANV's farm-as-classroom and youth-development model in the same Bay Area region.
• Growing Gardens: Portland, Oregon nonprofit running urban farms, CSA, and youth garden-education programs for low-income communities—comparable urban-farm + youth-education + CSA integrated model.
• The Food Project: Massachusetts-based nonprofit operating urban and suburban farms that combine sustainable agriculture with youth leadership, food access, and CSA distribution—directly comparable integrated youth + urban-farming + CSA model.

Broad incumbents

• Big Green: National nonprofit building learning gardens in schools across the U.S.—overlaps with ANV on garden-based youth education but at much larger scale and as a broader portfolio rather than Oakland-specific urban farming.

Others

• Real Food Challenge: National student-led food-justice network shifting institutional purchasing toward equitable food systems—thematically connected to ANV's food-sovereignty and youth-leadership mission, though focused on campus food chains.
• Ecology Center: Berkeley-based environmental and food-justice nonprofit running farmers markets, urban agriculture programs, and policy advocacy—adjacent mission in food systems and urban farming across the East Bay.

Regional players

• Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture (CUESA): San Francisco Ferry Plaza Farmers Market operator and food-education nonprofit—comparable Bay Area food-access and sustainable-agriculture education focus, though more market-based than farm-based.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@KellyC1504
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/3812680
• Instagraminstagram.com/anv_farm
• TikToktiktok.com/@anvoakland

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Acta Non Verba: Youth Urban Farm Project