NETIYA is a new interfaith network of 32-institutions that advances urban agriculture in our synagogues, schools, and non-profit organizations in Los Angeles. NETIYA forges alliances that merge purchasing power to source local food. NETIYA cultivates gardens to tithe nutritious food, and organizes community food security projects to seed a more just and resilient food system.
NETIYA plants Just Gardens to grow food through our institutions. Our aim is to make locally-grown produce more accessible to congregants and to neighbors in under-served communities by: 1) establishing sustainable gardens, 2) offering volunteer hands and plot space, or 3) offering educational workshops. Produce harvested from all NETIYA gardens goes through a reverse tithing – 90% to be donated, 10% for the institution to revitalize traditional Jewish agricultural practices.
Just Foods. NETIYA runs a collaborative city-wide Council of liaisons from the network institutions. This body holds meetings every two months to organize public events, and to prepare educational materials to help individuals and communities make informed, ethical and nutritious food choices. Through the Just Foods project, NETIYA encourages our members to partner and place our combined purchasing power behind ethical farms, ranchers, fisheries, and grocers – and to make it affordable for our partners in food deserts to access high quality, fresh produce that is locally-grown.
