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Rotary Club: Solana Beach Project Title: EcoLife MARK II 1. Describe the project. What was done, when and where did project activities take place? ECOLIFE's Sustainable Agriculture program maintains an aquaponic farm in Escondido, CA consisting of (3) separate aquaponic systems. Each of these systems contributes thousands of pounds of sustainably grown produce each year that is donated to its community partners across North County. Through these methods they are able to reduce water use by 90% while growing crops on 10% of the land space required for traditional agriculture. In addition to the farm, ECOLIFE has constructed Modular Aquaponic Response Kits (M.A.R.K.) for the Pala Band of Mission Indians and the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians. The M.A.R.K. systems will be used to strengthen tribal food sovereignty while piloting the potential for the off-grid aquaponic systems to be used in disaster relief situations and remote locations. 2. How many people benefited from this project? ECOLIFE grew and donated more than 2,400 pounds of aquaponic produce and provided 1,922 meals to approximately 640 individuals. 3. Who were the beneficiaries, how were they impacted by this project, and what humanitarian need was met? All the produce grown on the aquaponics system is donated to community partners such as Interfaith Community Services, Salvation Army Escondido, and Foundry Food Pantry. The monthly recipients include seniors, veterans, youth, people experiencing homelessness, low-income households, and individuals suffering from mental health issues. Most people benefiting from ECOLIFE's donations are considered part of the Access and Functional Needs population (AFN). Securely packed produce donations are shipped to the partner organizations, which then deliver the produce, as needed, to the clientele they directly serve. 4. How many Rotarians participated in the project? None 5. What did they do? Please give at least two examples, not including financial support provided to the project. 6. If a cooperating organization was involved, what was its role? Salvation Army Escondido, Foundry Food Pantry, and Interfaith Community Services all play a role in supporting local food security efforts. These organizations receive the produce ECOLIFE grows at our aquaponics farm and make sure that it ends up in the hands of those who need it most. The Pala and Viejas Tribes will be using the M.A.R.K. systems to grow edible fish and plants to support their own local food security initiatives and growing native plants for habitat restoration projects on the reservations. 7. Income
8. Expenditures
District must retain receipts of all expenditures for at least five years. Please scan and upload to the project's "Documents" tab all invoices (be sure they are marked "paid"), receipts and/or copies of checks for the full amount of the project budget. By signing this report, I confirm that to the best of my knowledge these District Grant funds were spent only for eligible items in accordance with Trustee-approved guidelines, and that all of the information contained herein is true and accurate. I also understand that all photographs submitted in connection with this report will become the property of RI and will not be returned. I warrant that I own all rights in the photographs, including copyright, and herby grant RI and TRF a royalty free irrevocable license to use the photographs now or at any time in the future, throughout the world in any manner it so chooses and in any medium now known or later developed. This includes the right to modify the photograph(s) as necessary in RI's sole discretion. This also includes, without limitation, use on or in the web site, magazines, brochures, pamphlets, exhibitions and any other promotional materials of RI and TRF.
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