Welcome and join us on a journey to discover the agricultural roots of Santa Clara Valley!

Veggielution has been working on a multi-year project called Growing AgriCultural Roots that aims to expand the standard narrative of our Valley’s farming history by bringing to light the significant contributions made by Chinese, Japanese, and Filipino immigrants in the agricultural development of Santa Clara Valley, principally during the 1880s through the 1960s. This was made possible in part by a grant from the County of Santa Clara’s Historic Grant Program. 

As part of this project, we have historical signs around the farm for visitors to learn more about the lives of these Asian American and Pacific Islander farmers, laborers, and their families. To deepen this understanding, we dedicate this page to this important history. 

We hope the AgriCultural Roots project will inspire you to learn more about these groups and the many others who have helped shape the Valley into what it is today. 

 
 

Learn More About This Project

  • In 2020, we started to speak to community members through an interactive art-making specific to the three cultures, Chinese, Japanese, and Filipino, with the East San Jose community at First Saturdays. Many members of the Chinese, Japanese and Filipino communities were interviewed, and traditional research with locally available and accessible reading material occurred too. The engagement and research have opened the doors to a path that shares these important and valuable stories about the history of the farm laborer in our Valley. For many people, these untold stories will be opening new doors to learn about the Valley’s underrepresented farm labor communities.

    In 2022, we worked with local artist, Roan Victor, to create a mural that highlights the experience of Asian immigrant farmers in the Silicon Valley. As she was working on the mural, she asked for feedback from community members on what art pieces she drafted best highlighted these experiences. Then on the final 1st Saturday of the year, we revealed the mural to the public. 

    Then in 2023 to 2024, we started to work on the historical markers that would be posted up throughout the farm. We worked with an Advisory Group consisting of locals who grew up on a farm and when this area was known as the “Valley of Heart's Delight.” In each sign, you will learn about how life was like living on a farm and the contributions that they and their families made in agriculture. During this project, we also had the pleasure of working with Maylea Saito who designed each sign. 

  • This project would not have been possible without the work and dedication from our partners, consultants, and artists. 

    Partners: Japanese American Museum of San Jose, Filipino American National Historical Society, Yu-Ai Kai Japanese American Community Senior Service, LEAD Filipino, Society of Heart’s Delight,  Bayani ng Kabataan, and De Anza College California History Center. As well as our consultants:

    Consultants: Art Builds Community

    Artists: Roan Victor, Maylea Saito