ENCINITAS, Calif. — For this week's Working for our Community segment, we're taking you out to Coastal Roots Farm in Encinitas.
The non-profit Jewish Community Farm and Education Center helps feed 45,000 people a year, for free.
"Coastal Roots Farm's mission is to nourish community," Kesha Dorsey said, who is the Director of Philanthropy, Impact Strategy and Communications.
"We're always growing what's in season," Javier Guerrero said, who is the President and CEO.
From tall corn stalks to vibrant tomatoes, at Coastal Roots Farm, at least 60 different organic crops are grown year-round.
"We grow 80,000 pounds of food a year and feed 40-45,000 people," Guerrero added.
It was founded on Jewish agricultural values, by the Leichtag Foundation nearly ten years ago.
"We believe the Jewish values we were founded on and practice have universal relevance. I'll give you an example - one of our Jewish values is called Pele, which means wonder. Wonder is what guides the curriculum at Coastal Roots Farm - we invite kids onto the farm, this is their 18-acre classroom, we hope it fosters a love of nature and understanding how their actions impact the environment," Dorsey said.
Another example is hospitality - the welcoming of strangers and sharing their abundant harvest.
"In ancient times, they had the notion of pele where people would line the edges of their field with food so that everyone could have dignified access to food and here we have our 'Pay What You Can Farmstand,' very much capturing that idea that everyone has the right to live a good life and have nutrient-dense food," Guerrero said.
The 'Pay What You Can Farmstand' is open twice a week - pay what you can big or small for beautiful, fresh vegetables, then the rest, about 75% is donated to local non-profits. One in four people in San Diego needs help getting food on the table.
"We at the farm, believe very strongly that everybody belongs here. We're proud of these Jewish values and traditions and we want to do it shoulder to shoulder, with people who come from all walks of life," Dorsey said.
You're invited to visit the farm this Sunday, for their annual Sukkot Harvest Festival.
"It marks the end of summer and the beginning of the rainy season. Sukkot's symbolism is about welcoming the stranger, it's about opening one's door," Dorsey added.
"That time of harvest is a really beautiful time on the farm," Guerrero said.
There will be live music, kids activities, cooking workshops, and of course delicious food. An easy way to nourish the community and help support hunger, climate, and education.
"The way we grow our food is all about building the healthy foundation of the soil, which inadvertently fights climate change," Dorsey said.
All year long, Coastal Roots hosts private events, farm-to-table dinners, and farm camps for kids.
"We talk to families about balancing screen time, with green time," Guerrero said.
Coastal Roots Farm relies on donations, grants, corporate partnerships, sponsorships, and volunteers - all to fuel a healthier community and more sustainable environment.
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