Misha's Farm Blog Notes from the Field
Photos from the Farm
A New Intitative in Sustainable Farming
San Diego Roots has begun developing our sustainable organic farm and education center just outside the city’s sprawl:
The San Diego Roots Farm
& Education Center at Suzie's
We are in partnership with Suzie's Farm -- a stellar example of a small, organic farm that not only grows delicious food, but vibrant community too -- to educate the public in sustainable urban and commercial farming on five acres of historic farmland.
The location: on the north banks of the scenic Tijuana River Park (USA) just north of the Mexican border. The farm is less than three miles from the Pacific Ocean and enjoys a moderate climate throughout the year, and is adjacent to the Tijuana River Estuary with its abundant wildlife, scenic views and peaceful setting.
Help Grow the Farm!
You can make your money go twice as far!
Our organization is teaming up with singer/songwriter Jack Johnson on his 2010 To The Sea Tour and All At Once, a social action network connecting nonprofits with people who want to become active in their local and world community.
The first $2,500 raised to “Grow the Farm!” will be matched by Jack Johnson’s charity, so give now to double your contribution!
We've got a farm to build! Click here to go to our Grow the Farm page.
Volunteer at the Farm!
Saturdays, 2pm to 5pm*
Wednesdays, 3pm to 5pm
We are working hard to build our farm: laying out the various farming and teaching areas, tilling the soil and getting things ready for a major fall planting.
If you like working in the soil, please join us! There's no need to ask or apply, just show up ready to get in the dirt. Bring work gloves and wear sturdy shoes, long pants, sunscreen and hat. If you've got them, bring your own tools too: shovels, steel rakes, digging forks, long-handled manual weed cutters. A few wheel barrows would be nice too.
*Third Saturdays we work from 9am to noon so we can go to the La Milpa Open House.
Location: Click here for a map.
CAUTION: Do not use MapQuest, OnStar, or other navigation aids. They will not get you there!
DIRECTIONS: Take I-5 South through Chula Vista, exit at Tocayo Ave. Proceed on Tocayo Avenue west to Hollister (second light). Turn left on Hollister. Proceed on Hollister to Sunset (second stop sign). Turn left on Sunset. Go 400 yards east on Sunset and turn right onto the dirt road just beyond the Sun Grown Distributors sign. Proceed down the dirt road about 300 yards, past the greenhouses and Sun Grown warehouse. Our farm begins just beyond the warehouse.
PUBLIC TRANSIT: Take the Blue Line Trolley toward San Ysidro, exit at the Iris Station. Take the 934 Bus west, exit the bus at the corner of Tocayo Ave. & Hollister. Walk or bike south on Hollister two big blocks to Sunset. Turn left and walk 300 yards east till you see our sign on the right-hand side of the road, just before the County Park. Turn right and proceed down the dirt road about 300 yards, past the greenhouses and Sun Grown warehouse. Our farm begins just beyond the warehouse.
Roots Farm Potluck
Saturday, September 4
Tours, potluck and movie night!
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2pm-4pm Volunteer on the farm
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4pm Farm Tour
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5pm Potluck*
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8pm Movie: The Real Dirt on Farmer John
Our farm is all about community, so what better way to say that than by hosting a monthly community gathering? On the first Saturday of every month starting at 2pm we host tours, volunteer opportunities, a grand potluck dinner followed by a movie under the stars. Our first on is Saturday, August 7.
*Please bring something yummy to share (extra points for using organic, locally grown ingredients). Please label your dish and ingredients used if possible. Also bring a chair, plate, cup and eating utensils to help us keep this a zero-waste event. It may get breezy around sundown, so bring a jacket and warm clothing.
About our Farm & Education Center
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Located in the Tijuana River Valley, 15 minutes from downtown San Diego, where state-of-the-art water efficiency methods and non-imported water from a river aquifer will be used in the cultivation of our fields and food.
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Grows delicious and nutritious food for the local market, reducing the distance that food must travel to reach our forks, and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions caused by our food.
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Reduces food security risks associated with middleman processing and distribution, while contributing to a more secure, just and sustainable food system, as well as promote a more robust, local economy
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Models intelligent agricultural methods that sustain healthy soils, crops, water supplies and eco-systems
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Creates an on-the-farm apprenticeship program to work in conjunction with San Diego City College's Sustainable Agriculture Certification Program. This apprenticeship program will train the next generation of farmers for our unique region.
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Works to preserve agricultural variety by growing heirloom and open-pollinated, non-patented food crops; protecting biological diversity by defending the adjacent, native habitat against non-toxic methods of pests and weed control; and inviting native predators and pollinators into our farm.
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Educates, inspires and empowers learners of all ages to grow and prepare life-giving food. Experiential education field trips for K-12 students will address essential ecological and health-related themes through engaging hands-on presentations and tours. Family and adult programs will cultivate meaningful skills such as: composting and soil building, gardening, healthy cooking, preserving food, local action for global citizens, and more.
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Provides access to healthy, good food for the diverse population of 3 million San Diego County residents as well as a living model of sustainable agriculture.
Goals for the Project
Healthy Bodies, Communities, Economies, & Ecosystems:
Sustainable Agriculture Enhances Quality of Life at all Levels.
1) To provide an exceptional model of sustainable agriculture in San Diego County.
We will grow quality organic foods for the San Diego community that nourish the body, mind and spirit; re-connect people with their land, their farmers and one another; demonstrate and teach sustainable agricultural practices that enhance ecosystem health; promote volunteerism; and provide workshops on sustainable, healthy food topics. Ultimately, we plan to create a family of farms that will transform our local food system as well as residents’ awareness about the importance of freshly grown, unconventional food.
2) To inspire and educate children and adults on the ecological, economic, health and environmental benefits of sustainable agriculture.
Roots Farm @ Suzie's will host school-to-farm field trips for students throughout San Diego County with programs about: the science and art of growing food; making connections with nature; proper care and nutrition of our Earthbodies for optimum health; and more. The farm is only 14 miles from downtown San Diego and is easily accessible by tens of thousands of school children in south coastal San Diego County.
Our farmers, educators and students will engage in experiential learning with lessons in: composting; amending soil; planting seeds; tending crops; harvesting produce; preparing food on the farm; plus more. All participants will be provided with resources and tools for creating gardens at their homes, in their neighborhoods and at their schools.
3) To create a college-accredited farmer apprenticeship program to teach sustainable agricultural practices and provide opportunities to farm locally.
Roots’ future farmer training program will ensure that our local food-growing heritage returns to the vitality and strength that it once had. Teachers and administrators at San Diego City College are working together to develop curriculum and hands-on training programs for offering students an accredited certificate program in sustainable agriculture.
Demand exceeds current capacity in our Organic Farming Workshops and Seeds at City Urban Farm student internships. Many young people want to grow food organically as a response to solving multiple, interrelated social and environmental problems. We will partner with other local, compatible organizations to integrate their work with refugees and recent immigrants to San Diego; teach local farming practices; provide opportunities to grow quality food; and promote essential job skills.
4) To promote greater regional food security and ecosystem health.
Our goal is to enhance and preserve our region’s best farmland so that we can feed current and future generations of San Diegans; create greater food security for our growing population; and to promote local agriculture, along with a secure regional food system, as a means to strengthen our local economy.
Enjoying the farm’s natural beauty, learning about life cycles, food production and health, and working cooperatively, will all have a lasting impact on our children.
Project Partners
And your organization?