Insight Garden Program

10/12/2026

It's official: the HUGS Act is law! 🎉💙

Governor Gavin Newsom has signed AB 1645, the "Humanizing and Uniting Generations Safely" Act. Starting January 2027, California will protect the moments that matter most when a child visits a parent in prison: a long hug hello, holding hands, sitting close on a parent's lap.

The HUGS Act recognizes how important physical contact is during prison visits. It means California state prisons can't unreasonably limit appropriate, loving contact between incarcerated people and their families throughout the visit, including hugs, holding hands and holding young children.

Thank you to the families, advocates and co-sponsors, including Bridges of Hope, Restoring Hope California and Essie Justice Group, who made this possible.

Learn how we bring children to their parents at crjw.org. 💙

10/08/2026

In 1985, Theresa went to prison. That same year, two red-eared slider turtles were born.

Forty-one years later, on a Land Together outing to a marsh in Torrance she hadn't known existed, she met them.

Theresa first joined us while she was incarcerated at California Institution for Women. Since coming home, she's joined several of our groups and outings. On a trip to Dockweiler Beach, she swam in the ocean for the first time in more than forty years.
The Torrance turtles inspired her to get two babies of her own. Say hello to Teddy and Freddy!

Theresa started out in transitional housing through Mass Liberation, one of our reentry housing partners, and now has her own place in Los Angeles. Last month she was hired as a paid office intern at ARC, which works with us on job pathways for people coming home.

In Theresa's words: "These experiences with Land Together have been uplifting. I am reminded that coming home is about more than being released. It is also about rediscovering the world, building connections, and finding a sense of belonging."

10/05/2026

We're excited to be part of Healing from the Inside, a gathering of people who provide services inside prisons to support healing, transformation, and homecoming.

Join Land Together Executive Director Karen Hsueh on October 22 in Oakland as we imagine a justice system rooted in healing instead of punishment. Karen will speak on a panel about nature-based approaches to healing programs in prison, alongside staff from Amend and the Sustainability in Prisons Project.
We're looking forward to connecting with others in this field and learning from the wide range of experience in the room. Hope to see you there!

Learn more and register: https://www.uncommonlaw.org/20th-conference

The UnCommon Heroes Gala takes place the next evening at the Berkeley City Club, and one of our own is being honored! Sol Mercao, LT's Northern California Reentry Coordinator and a former program participant, is among this year's honorees.

Get gala tickets here: https://www.uncommonlaw.org/20th-gala

09/29/2026

We're hiring a Development Operations Associate to keep the systems behind our fundraising running smoothly and turn our program stories and numbers into reports for funders.

This role is for someone who loves getting the details right. You notice when a record looks off, you plan ahead of every deadline, and a well-organized calendar brings you real satisfaction. You're comfortable working daily in project management tools and Salesforce, and you bring at least two years of nonprofit development experience.

Full-time, remote within California, 58,000 to 68,000 with full benefits.

Priority deadline October 9.

Learn more at landtogether.org/careers

09/25/2026

Join us for our 2nd Annual Fall Night Market, a celebration of community, food, art, 🎃 pumpkins, and the changing of seasons. 🎃 🍂 🪇 🥘 🫶 🎃

Saturday, October 17th, 6 - 9 PM

Hosted directly in front of (and even inside of) the Planting Justice Nursery and Farm Store, where our regular Sunday Farmers Market is held. This family friendly celebration will have:

🎨 Arts & Crafts Vendors
🎃 Pumpkins!
🎶 Live Music
🍲 Food
🫶 Community
🎃 Pumpkins!
Did we mention pumpkins?! 🎃

PARKING: Ample parking is available at The El Sobrante Christian High school at 5070 Appian Way, El Sobrante CA 94803. Only 100 feet away from the market!

🎃

09/24/2026

This month’s reentry nature outing included horseback riding lessons from High Horse Malibu!

It was the first time riding a horse for many of us. We started on a hillside overlooking the mountains, with the ocean off in the distance. LT Reentry leader, John, opened with a meditation to get everyone grounded before we split up.

We went out in two groups of six. While one group rode horses, the other stayed up top painting and swapping stories.

A big part of the ride was building trust with the horses. They’re sensitive to human stress and body language, which is part of why they’re used in some PTSD therapy programs.

DeShawn and Marquette left, saying they want horses of their own someday!

09/15/2026

This month's cover story in the CCWF Paper Trail covers the first graduation of Community Alliance, a self-help group at Central California Women's Facility founded by resident Yolanda Harden and sponsored by Sol Mercado, formerly incarcerated at CCWF and now a member of our staff.

Community Alliance supports peer-led healing from past and present trauma, building unity and positivity inside the largest women's prison in the world. Sol came back inside as a sponsor to bring hope to the women still there. As she told the graduates: "Don't be scared of change."

Read the full issue here:http://ccwfpapertrail.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/CCWF-Paper-Trail-August-2026.pdf

09/09/2026

🌿 COASTAL CALIFORNIA: SEPTEMBER GARDEN CHECKLIST

While gardeners in colder parts of the country are preparing for frost, many Coastal California gardeners are entering one of their best opportunities for cool-season growing.

But September can be a transition month.

🍅 KEEP HARVESTING SUMMER CROPS

Don’t pull productive tomatoes, peppers, eggplant or zucchini just because September arrived. Keep harvesting while the plants and weather cooperate.

🥬 START LEAFY GREENS

As temperatures become more favorable, begin planting appropriate lettuce, spinach, arugula, mustard greens and other cool-season greens.

🥕 SOW ROOT CROPS

Carrots, radishes, beets and turnips can become part of the fall garden when local conditions are suitable.

🥦 START FALL BRASSICAS

Broccoli, cauliflower, kale, cabbage and Brussels sprouts may also fit into your fall planting plans. Timing is important, so follow recommendations for your particular area.

☀️ WATCH FOR LINGERING HEAT

The calendar may say fall, but September can still bring hot afternoons. Newly planted seedlings may need temporary shade and careful watering while they establish.

💧 CHECK YOUR IRRIGATION

Don’t reduce watering automatically because summer is ending. Check the soil and adjust irrigation as temperatures and weather conditions change.

Most importantly, remember that Coastal California isn't one single gardening climate. Ocean influence and local microclimates can create very different planting windows even between nearby communities.

Use a local planting calendar rather than relying on USDA hardiness zone alone.

🌱 SAVE this checklist for your September garden!

What part of California are you gardening in?

09/09/2026

09/09/2026

California’s parole system needs bold, strategic advocates working to transform it. UnCommon Law is hiring an Associate Director of Policy and Advocacy to help lead that work.

This role will turn policy strategy into action, advancing legislative and regulatory campaigns, engaging directly with lawmakers and state agencies, shaping coalitions, and translating complex legal issues into clear and persuasive advocacy.

This is an opportunity for an experienced policy or legal advocate to help drive meaningful systems change and advance policies rooted in racial equity, healing, accountability, and the dignity of people impacted by incarceration.

Join our team: https://uncommonlaw.bamboohr.com/careers/115

Priority application deadline: September 18, 2026, at 5 p.m. PT.