City Slicker Farms

My name is Muriel Sterling, owner and operator of Sterling`s Family Child Care Facility here in Oakland. That’s one of my students and his mom on the cover of the City Slicker Farms’ Annual Report you received this summer! We’ve all been so inspired by our experience that I wanted to share our story with you.

What motivated me to join the Backyard Garden Program is the fact that freshly grown fruits and vegetables are a benefit to the healthy growth and development of children.

I live in an area where parents are just trying to make it from day to day and children don’t get the proper nutrition that they deserve. The parents are wonderful and mean well. So, when the children come to me, I want them to have proper nourishment.

I think the benefit of having fresh vegetables – good healthy food – to give to the children is to make sure that I can make up for what is lacking at the homes that they come from.

I had gardened before this experience, but with my busy schedule – running my Child Care Facility and being involved in my community and church – I had not had the chance to put in a garden to my satisfaction. So, this program from City Slicker Farms was a great opportunity to have a garden with experienced help.

I continue to garden because it is a hobby, releases stress, is good for exercise and produces healthy foods, as well as educates the children on healthy eating and the process of planting and harvesting from a garden.

Thanks to City Slicker Farms, my Child Care Facility was introduced to foods that we had never experienced before such as herbs (thyme, oregano, marjoram and rosemary) and rattlesnake beans. Our favorite things to grow in the garden are tomatoes, onions, green beans, cabbage, greens, peppers and squash. 

Herbs have made such a difference in our recipes that the children are eating vegetables they did not even want to try before. The children really enjoy planting and picking produce from the garden.  They enjoy making salads from the veggies as well.

This is why I am writing this letter and asking you to make a gift this summer. A donation of $50, $100, $250 or $500 will go to support young children so that they can learn how to grow food with their very own hands and to love eating fresh fruits and vegetables.

Since we started gardening with the kids, we now set time aside for exercise because healthy eating and exercise go hand in hand. We also do kid-friendly cooking recipes for the children to enjoy. 

My most memorable experience was when I was cooking potatoes with fresh rosemary from the garden and everyone – the kids and my staff – came running to the kitchen asking, “What is that wonderful smell?” That was just awesome. And did you know? You can actually cook broccoli leaves as greens – absolutely delicious.

One of my favorite times was when the children picked chamomile for tea and veggies for salad. We had a tea party with salad rather than cookies! Along with that tea party, we had conversations about table manners.

There are many dishes that I enjoy making and the children enjoy eating, using veggies from the garden. Here are some of our favorites:

•               Rosemary Chicken

•               Rosemary Potatoes with Marjoram and Thyme

•               Ground Beef and Squash Casserole

•               Greens with Peppers

•               Cabbage with Marjoram and Thyme

•               Broccoli Leaves

•               Chamomile for Tea

•               Rattlesnake Beans

•               Salads

I think that the mentorship from City Slicker Farms has been just absolutely wonderful. The attention that they have given me has been great. It’s made me feel comfortable in the garden; every few months my mentor will come out and make sure everything is alright and bring the supplies we need. And it energizes me because there’s this professional help that they give.

I would encourage anyone that is in the position to fund a garden to please not hesitate to do so.

The things that children learn from their gardening experience are lifelong lessons that will contribute to their healthy growth and development and can be passed on to future generations. Eating healthy has lead to exercise and health education at my Child Care Facility, which ultimately aids in decreasing childhood obesity.

Please make a gift today. A donation of $50, $100, $250 or $500 will mean that children will grow up with a love for fresh greens, juicy tomatoes, and sweet smelling herbs. And they will thrive because they will have grown up eating these healthy foods each and every day.

This garden has been a wonderful experience for my facility and all involved and we look forward to continuing to grow food. I am hoping that many others will have the opportunity to share this experience with City Slicker Farms.

Sincerely,




Muriel Sterling

Owner and Proprietor of Sterling’s Family Child Care Facility & Proud Backyard Gardener

P.S. Please do not hesitate to donate. Your gift today will mean that another Child Care Facility can have a garden tomorrow.