Deer Hollow Farm Testimonials

Tommy Lugaresi - San Jose

My name is Tommy Lugaresi. I've lived in the San Jose Bay Area for the majority of my life. I had a very different upbringing than most. I grew up as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was homeschooled, and am the 4th of five children to my parents. My father was an electrical and mechanical engineer, and my mother was a homemaker who consistently studied nutrition and alternative/traditional medicines, while also being my teacher, having decided to homeschool me and my siblings. I always like to joke that I only have a "preschool education".

From a young age my parents instilled in me a curiosity and desire to learn and create. I believe it was my mom's unique parenting that led me to my love of cooking. When I was only a few years old, if I told my mom I was hungry, she wouldn't tell me to wait for a specific meal time, or just give me something to eat. She would ask me what I wanted to eat, and make suggestions if I couldn't decide. Then she would help me make it. She would carefully guide my hands so we could slice her homemade bread, and again guide me to slice the cheese to assemble a cheese sandwich. She would have me press the buttons on the microwave to cook it, or have me watch if she grilled it on the stove. I'm so grateful that she taught and empowered me as a child to understand what I was capable of. My dad wasn't a wit behind her either! He was always willing to help with math, writing, and many other things!

I think my love of growing food came from having a number of fruit trees, and around the age of 10, my mom and some family friends started a garden backyard. I remember picking avocados, plums, apricots, loquats, crab apples, mullberries, and blackberries. From our garden, for the years we maintained it, I remember mostly lettuce, corn, and squash of some kind. I also remember being immature and upset when I'd have to stop what I was doing to go water the trees. In my adulthood, a quiet moment out in nature sounds like a wonderful treat.

I'm very fortunate to have had my job with Sprouts Farmer's Market since early 2017. It's taught me a lot about the grocery and agriculture industries. I am always so excited to talk to folks from the produce category of the business, ask them some of my burning questions and learn something new!

I came across Deer Hollow Farm in 2023. After the tragic passing of my older brother, his best friend reached out to me so we could get to know each other better and help each other grieve from our mutual loss. It was his suggestion that we go on a hike at the Cupertino Open Space Preserve. As we neared the end of our hike we came across Deer Hollow Farm and were really impressed. We toured through the farm, saw the planting boxes, watched the goats, read through the signage and information there. One of the ducks rather aggressively nipped at my friend's pants through the fence ! The whole experience just stuck with me. I was really impressed. Back in August, when I was attending the business and training convention, SproutsCon, that Sprouts Farmer's Market puts on for its workers and business partners, there was a booth for the Sprouts led Healthy Communities Foundation and Healthy Seeds Grant. When I saw it, I just knew I had to submit Deer Hollow Farm. I was so pleased to find out that were chosen!

I really appreciate the mission of Deer Hollow Farm to educate about growing food and tending animals. In our modern world, centered in the heart of our urban sprawl, it is easy to forget where our food comes from. I've heard stories of children and adults that when asked "Where does the food you eat come from?", answer "The grocery store." And when asked the follow up question "Where does the grocery store get that food?", they have no answer, seemingly oblivious to the work that so many people, farmers, fieldhands, ranchers put in, plus all the transportation and logistics. I have tried my hand at growing food. I've taken care of my neighbor's chickens. I've spoken to farmers and cultivators. I understand and have some experience to know just how much effort it takes to get a single bit of food onto a plate. It's really difficult!

When you ponder on all the effort it takes, it brings a lot of clarity to history: Common among all nations and people we were of celebrations of the Harvest. It's easy to forget just over 100 years ago approximately 95% of the world still lived as an agrarian society. Even with all our modern technology, food scarcity still exists. Just as my parents empowered me to understand how to grow, prepare, and cook food, I hope that Deer Hollow Farm can continue to empower the youth of the rising generations to gain the love, appreciation, and knowledge of how to care for the earth, the animals, and ourselves.