Rudy Lozito Fellowship Program

The Rudy Lozito fellowship program is an Urban Farming training program created in honor and memory of former Urban TIlth Staff Member and Farm Manager, Rudy Lozito. Rudy began his career at Urban Tilth as a summer apprentice just out of high school. An unlikely farmer, Rudy took the summer opportunity to cultivate organic food to feed his community to heart and quickly gained the passion, skills, and knowledge to become a site coordinator and later a farm manager. This program is designed to give opportunities to young people, like Rudy, who have a passion and desire for cultivating change in themselves and their community through the land and just need that first opportunity to get started.

More About Rudy Lozito

Rudy Lozito was a gentle soul who wanted to heal the planet with healthy organic food. He worked with Urban Tilth for 7 years, starting when he was 17 in the Summer Apprentice Program. Later Rudy was hired as staff and went on to manage the Adams Crest Farm. He taught the summer apprentice program introducing these young apprentices to his tasty vegan cooking. 

Rudy was passionate about many things including: growing food for our community, soil health, sustainability, herbalism, mycology, & more. He loved working the soil and helped start the no-till culture at Urban Tilth. Rudy grew the most delicious tomatoes, peppers, and greens. After becoming a farm manager at Adams Crest, he trained most of our staff on how to care for the land, so the land could care for us in return. 

We honor our beloved brother by growing the foods and medicines he loved growing the most: Lemon Cucumbers, Squash, Habanero Peppers, Lacinato Kale, Mugwort, Elderberry, and Lemon balm. We hope that he is proud of our work and continues to grow food beyond our realm.

Rudy was also a notorious lover of Kombucha. We would always joke that you could tell where Rudy was on the farm by his trail of empty Kombucha bottles. If you see empty Kombucha bottles along our farm rows, please leave them where you find them, as we always want to honor our brother and keep him with us as we continue on this journey.

How do I get involved?

In 2025, the Rudy Lozito Fellowship Program will host four West Contra Costa adults at our North Richmond Farm for seven months of training in sustainable and regenerative farming practices. Fellows will gain hands-on experience in areas such as seasonal organic crop production, minimal till farming, soil-based carbon sequestration, animal husbandry/poultry farming, and soil nourishment. They will work alongside our staff to steward the land and cultivate resources for the community.

The fellowship is open to West Contra Costa adults (18+). It includes workshops, training sessions, certifications, field trips, and guest speakers from various farming and land management fields, all while providing hands-on learning by completing daily tasks alongside the North Richmond Farm Collective. This fellowship is ideal for individuals who are seriously interested in learning the foundational principles of responsible urban farming operations.

Farm work is rewarding but physically demanding. It requires consistency, discipline, and the ability to work in all types of weather conditions. After some workdays, you may feel sore, hot, wet, cold, or simply exhausted, but the experience is fulfilling.

The seven-month fellowship requires a 20-hour-a-week commitment, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with some flexibility during the week to accommodate guest speakers and field trips integrated into the program. The program will run from April 7th, 2025 – November 14th, 2025, and is compensated at $22.00 per hour, including basic benefits such as sick leave, holidays, and a wellness fund allocation.

As part of the fellowship, each accepted applicant must be willing and able to fully participate in and complete the Occidental Arts & Ecology Permaculture Design Course, which will take place as follows:

• Online sessions: 05/22, 05/29, 06/05, 06/12, Evenings from 6-8:30 p.m. PST
• In-person sessions: 06/20-06/27 (a full week stay)

There may be other mandatory or optional certifications that will be added to the fellowship before application acceptance into the program.

Apply on our employment page!

Meet the 2025 Fellows!

Donté, also known as “Té” or “Té Amo,” is a poet, performer, and artist born and raised in North Richmond. He’s always had a passion for storytelling, whether through poetry, music, or film. But his love for nature and food also runs deep. For the past 10 years, Donté has lived a plant-based lifestyle, and now he’s eager to learn how to grow his own food and steward the land in ways that nourish both the body and the community. Through the fellowship, he’s diving into food preservation, herbalism, and permaculture to create a lasting impact.

Cristina’s connection to food and the land runs deep. Raised in San Pablo with a mom who prioritizes healthy, homemade meals, Cristina has always dreamed of owning land where she could grow her own crops and be close to nature. A trip to Mexico at 15 sparked a dream of owning land there someday, but whether here or abroad, she’s passionate about growing food and living sustainably. Whether hiking, camping, or simply being outdoors, Cristina finds peace in nature, and through the RLFP, she’s taking that connection to the next level.

Jeremiah is a proud third-generation Bay Area resident with deep roots in Richmond. He holds a special respect for the Indigenous ancestors who cared for this land long before him. From a young age, Jeremiah has worked the soil with his family, and it’s given him a grounding and peace that’s carried him through life’s challenges. He’s passionate about food sovereignty and permaculture, believing that working with the land is essential to building a sustainable future for his community. Jeremiah’s work with the RLFP is part of his journey to carry forward the tradition of land stewardship and food justice.

Jason’s life hasn’t been easy, but it’s made him the strong, resilient person he is today. Raised in Marin and Richmond, Jason had to teach himself many things after his parents’ divorce. But through it all, he’s always had a deep connection to the land and a growing passion for farming. Working at the Richmond Bart Farmers Market and Marina Bay Park Farmers Market opened his eyes to how much goes into bringing fresh food to the community, and now, through the fellowship, Jason is learning how to be part of that process from the ground up. He’s excited to be a part of the Urban Tilth family and can’t wait to see what the future holds.