Nourishment for body, mind, and spirit!

The Good Table Café & Community Gathering Space, with the Planting Justice Organic Nursery will:

• Reduce food insecurity - by offering healthy food and coffee, regardless of means or ability to pay

• Decrease social isolation - by hosting a welcoming place for all to gather with dignity

• Foster spiritual growth - with affirming church services and interfaith gatherings

• Celebrate ethical living - by creating strong community connections between diverse peoples

• Commit to act as stewards of the earth - by opting for environmentally conscious building decisions whenever possible during the renovation, and modeling sustainable business practices

We’re delighted to receive your tax-deductible contributions in any amount and would appreciate introductions to other individual donors and/or foundations that would be interested in our project.

 Dear Good Table Mates,

We’re slowly, but surely making progress in the building! The sheetrock, mudding, and tape are finished and the first coat of paint is going up on the walls. Soon we will have windows, doors, and floors, although we will likely keep things boarded up for security. We’d love to show you what’s up, so feel free to stop by on a workday for a tour or bring your work gloves and come help. Our Community Work + Fun days are held every last Saturday of the month from 12-3p, although we meet on the First Saturdays of December and January to avoid the holidays. (Dec. 7, 2024 and Jan. 4, 2025)

The Planting Justice Farmer’s Market continues each Sunday from 10a-2p and the great folks of Triangle Works and The Shed are also open each Sunday. Check out their offerings by clicking here.

You are also welcome at The Good Table UCC Sunday Gathering each Sunday at 12n at 780 Ashbury Avenue in El Cerrito and online via zoom. Our service is truly welcome to all and includes eclectic music, prayer, and preaching. Our Live Edge Readers book group meets on Wednesdays from 2:30-4p via zoom. You would also be warmly welcome to join our Interfaith Meditation group in zoom each Thursday evening from 6-6:45. Need more info? Take a look around this site or contact Pastor Melinda.

Love and many blessings,
Melinda

Meet The Good Table

A Vision for Community Café and Organic Tree and Plant Nursery operated by Planting Justice and Mira Vista United Church of Christ, now known as The Good Table United Church of Christ (GTUCC)

When the leaders of Mira Vista UCC (MVUCC) and Planting Justice (PJ) first met in September 2018, both organizations immediately recognized the great synergy between the two groups for creating a community café with separate gathering spaces for education, spiritual celebrations, live music, and community events plus an organic tree and plant nursery at the site of the former Adachi nursery in El Sobrante.

Many members of The Good Table UCC already live in El Sobrante and PJ has a farm close to the property with plans to operate in the area for the long term. This development creates a headquarters for both organizations to improve and expand over time. For GTUCC, this will be our new sanctuary, a new spiritual home for our congregation that not only serves our needs, but those of our neighbors. Having a retail nursery and education space for PJ, will make it much easier for their community to gather and connect to new supporters.

For El Sobrante residents, the site of the former Adachi nursery is one of the few “landmarks” in the town and has recently been designated a site of historical significance as part of the long history of Japanese-owned nurseries in the Bay Area. The 1966 mid-century modern building was designed by award-winning Richmond firm, Hardison and Komatsu (Donald Hardison and S. Richard Komatsu), now HKIT Architecture in Oakland. Hardison and Komatsu designed many landmark buildings in Northern California including the student center at U.C. Berkeley. As PJ and GTUCC have met with residents, we have found broad and dedicated support for our plan because it will preserve the original building and the nursery function too. In addition, the community is in desperate need of a place to simply gather for good food, conversation, and fun.

We also plan to offer locally-produced products such as honey and jams creating a regular farm stand in El Sobrante, as well as a retail outlet for local artisans to sell their products. In time, we plan to expand our food services, sponsor a farmer’s market and/or create other beneficial activities to meet community needs. Our project aims to be self-sustaining financially, but our real success will be creating a robust social service bottom-line.