COASTAL ROOTS FARM
441 SAXONY RD, ENCINITAS, CA 92024 coastalrootsfarm.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: CULTIVATES HEALTHY COMMUNITIES INTEGRATING AGRICULTURE,FOOD JUSTICE, AND ANCIENT JEWISH WISDOM.

INCREASING ACCESS TO FRESH ORGANIC PRODUCE THROUGH SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE: COASTAL ROOTS FARM MANAGES 17 ACRES OF FARMLAND, CONSISTING OF 2.5 ACRES OF VEGETABLE PRODUCTION FIELDS, AN EDUCATION FARM & GARDEN, A LARGE-SCALE COMPOST OPERATION, THREE CHICKEN FLOCKS, AND AN 8.5-ACRE AGROFORESTRY "FOOD FOREST." UTILIZING REGENERATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES, WE RESTORE TOP SOILS AND ENRICH SOIL FERTILITY, IMPROVE WATERSHEDS AND CONSERVE WATER, ENHANCE ECOSYSTEMS AND INCREASE BIODIVERSITY, SEQUESTER CARBON TO FIGHT GLOBAL WARMING, DIVERT ORGANIC WASTE FROM THE LANDFILL, AND COMPOST WASTE TO BUILD MORE RICH SOIL AND OFFSET THOUSANDS OF METRIC TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS FROM THE ATMOSPHERE. THROUGH THESE SUSTAINABLE FARMING PRACTICES, WE HAVE DIVERTED NEARLY 4 MILLION POUNDS OF GREEN AND ORGANIC WASTE FROM THE LANDFILL, GROW MORE THAN 40,000 POUNDS OF NUTRIENT-DENSE, ORGANIC FRUITS, VEGETABLES, HERBS, AND EGGS, AND FEED APPROXIMATELY 25,000 MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY ANNUALLY.GUIDED BY ANCIENT JEWISH AGRICULTURAL TRADITIONS AND VALUES, COASTAL ROOTS FARM CARES FOR AND PROTECTS OUR ENVIRONMENT WHILE WE ALSO CARE FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY - THOSE FACING FOOD INSECURITY. THROUGH OUR ORGANIC FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM, THE FARM DONATES THE MAJORITY OF THE FRUITS, VEGETABLES, HERBS, AND EGGS WE GROW AND HARVEST EACH YEAR TO THOSE WHO LACK ACCESS TO FRESH FOOD. WE DISTRIBUTE OUR HARVEST ON AND OFF-SITE, INCLUDING THROUGH A "PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN" FARM STAND LOCATED AT THE FARM AND THROUGH FREE DISTRIBUTIONS IMPLEMENTED IN COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP WITH DIFFERENT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT REACH DIVERSE FOOD INSECURE POPULATIONS. THE FARM SERVES MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES INCLUDING LOW-INCOME FAMILIES AND SENIORS, SINGLE-PARENT HOUSEHOLDS, IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES, ACTIVE-DUTY MILITARY AND VETERANS, AND HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS. WEALTH INEQUALITY IN NORTH SAN DIEGO COUNTY HAS BEEN STEADILY RISING, AND SAN DIEGO COUNTY'S POVERTY RATE OF 13.8% VASTLY UNDERCOUNTS THE NUMBER OF FAMILIES LIVING IN ECONOMIC INSECURITY. ALMOST 48% OF ALL HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN HAVE INCOMES TOO LOW TO MAKE ENDS MEET. THE SAN DIEGO HUNGER COALITION ESTIMATED ONE IN SEVEN COMMUNITY MEMBERS DID NOT REGULARLY HAVE ENOUGH FOOD TO LEAD HEALTHY, ACTIVE LIFESTYLES IN 2017. A STUDY OF FEEDING AMERICA FOOD BANK CLIENTS FOUND 66% CHOOSE BETWEEN PAYING FOR FOOD AND MEDICINE OR MEDICAL CARE EACH YEAR, WHILE 55% CHOOSE BETWEEN PAYING FOR FOOD AND HOUSING. TOO OFTEN, LOW-INCOME, AT-RISK FAMILIES RELY ON CHEAP, LESS NUTRITIOUS FOOD TO REDUCE DAILY HUNGER. WHILE THIS MAY HELP THEM GET THROUGH THE DAY, IT DOES NOT PROVIDE THE NUTRITION NEEDED TO THRIVE. WHILE FOOD BANKS AND PANTRIES ARE CRITICAL RESOURCES FOR ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY, ESPECIALLY DURING A CRISIS, THEY TOO OFTEN RELY ON DONATIONS OF LESS-HEALTHY OPTIONS, INCLUDING CANNED, PACKAGED, AND HIGHLY PROCESSED FOOD PRODUCTS THAT CAN EXACERBATE UNEQUAL ACCESS TO QUALITY FOOD FOR POOR, MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES. LACK OF PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, SUCH AS REFRIGERATION, CAN ALSO MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR FOOD PANTRIES TO DISTRIBUTE FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. OUR ORGANIC FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS FOR FOOD INSECURE COMMUNITIES INCLUDE: (1) A BI-WEEKLY ON-SITE PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN FARM STAND THAT ACCEPTS CAL FRESH (FOOD STAMPS) AND OFFERS A COMPLETELY PRIVATE AND DIGNIFIED CHECKOUT PROCESS; (2) A MONTHLY, NO-COST MOBILE FARM STAND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HELPING HAND WORLDWIDE, USO, AND OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS SERVING MILITARY FAMILIES AND VETERANS AND WHO PROVIDE BENEFICIARIES NON-PERISHABLE FOODS, DIAPERS, CLOTHES, AND MORE; (3) A MONTHLY, NO-COST MOBILE FARM STAND AT VISTA COMMUNITY CLINIC, A COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CARE SERVICES CLINIC SERVING PREDOMINATELY LOW-INCOME, IMMIGRANT, AND UNINSURED FAMILIES, AND IMPLEMENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FEEDING SAN DIEGO WHO OFFERS BENEFICIARIES NON-PERISHABLE FOODS; (4) WEEKLY, NO-COST HOME DELIVERIES TO SURVIVORS OF THE HOLOCAUST, MANY OF WHOM ARE HOMEBOUND AND LIVING IN POVERTY, AND IMPLEMENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES WHO PROVIDES GERIATRIC CARE SERVICES; (5) WEEKLY DONATIONS TO MERCY HOUSING'S CANTEBRIA SENIOR HOMES, A LOW-INCOME HOUSING COMPLEX FOR SENIORS; AND (6) WEEKLY DONATIONS TO LOCAL SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES AND FOOD PANTRIES, INCLUDING COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER, ST. ANDREW'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES, KITCHENS FOR GOOD, AND PRODUCE GOOD. THE FARM'S INNOVATIVE ORGANIC FOOD DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM GOES WELL BEYOND JUST MEETING BASIC NEEDS AND REDUCING FOOD INSECURITY THROUGH CALORIES ALONE. WE PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE HIGH-QUALITY FRESH FOOD NEEDED FOR GOOD HEALTH AND THE ONE-ON-ONE EDUCATION AND RESOURCES NEEDED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS, HOW TO PREPARE IT, AND WHY FOOD PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN OUR HEALTH AND LIVES. FROM OUR INCEPTION IN 2014 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2019, THE FARM DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN 167,000 POUNDS OF FRESH, NUTRIENT-DENSE, ORGANIC PRODUCE AND EGGS. THIS AMOUNT INCLUDES NEARLY 114,000 POUNDS DONATED AT NO-COST TO APPROXIMATELY 124,000 PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO LACK ACCESS TO FRESH, HEALTHY FOOD

INCREASING ACCESS TO HANDS-ON FARM-BASED ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION EXPERIENCES WE PROVIDE YOUTH AND ADULTS WITH UNIQUE, DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE FARM-BASED EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT CONNECT OUR COMMUNITY WITH THE LAND, FOOD, AND ONE ANOTHER. OUR FARM PROVIDES A UNIQUE PLATFORM FOR FARM-BASED ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION TO IMPROVE COMMUNITY HEALTH AND INCREASE AWARENESS, INVOLVEMENT, AND PASSION FOR NATURE, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, AND FOOD SYSTEMS. WE HOST WEEKLY HANDS-ON VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS, FARM TOURS, FARM CAMPS, AND SCHOOL AND GROUP VISITS BASED ON STEM-ALIGNED CURRICULUM FOR STUDENTS IN PRE-K THROUGH 12TH GRADE. COASTAL ROOTS FARM'S ENVIRONMENTAL STEM EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOLS AND GROUPS DELIVER A CONTINUUM OF COMPREHENSIVE, HANDS-ON PROGRAMS THAT MEET COMMON CORE, STEM SCIENCE, AND NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS FOR PRE-K THROUGH 12TH GRADE. THESE PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO MOTIVATE DEEPER APPRECIATION AND AWARENESS OF THE NEED TO PROTECT AND BE GOOD STEWARDS OF OUR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD SYSTEMS, COMMUNITIES, AND ONE ANOTHER; ENCOURAGE CREATIVITY, CRITICAL THINKING, PROBLEM-SOLVING, AND TEAMWORK; TEACH YOUTH IMPORTANT SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS IN WAYS THEY CAN TOUCH, SMELL, AND TASTE; CONNECT YOUTH WITH THE ORIGINS OF FOOD IN WAYS THEY MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE BE ABLE; AND INSPIRE FUTURE GENERATIONS OF ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERS.WE UTILIZE THE FARM AS A UNIQUE SETTING IN ORDER TO GAIN A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF THE FOOD SYSTEM AS WELL AS THE IMPORTANCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND HOW INDIVIDUAL ACTIONS CAN IMPACT THE ENVIRONMENT. AT THE FARM, YOUTH BECOME ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTISTS FOR THE DAY AND ARE EXPOSED TO IMPORTANT CONCEPTS THEY WILL BE ABLE APPLY TO THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES, SCHOOLWORK, AND IN FUTURE CAREERS. WE BELIEVE THAT WHEN CURIOSITY AND OPPORTUNITY FOR TRUE EXPLORATION COME TOGETHER, REAL LEARNING HAPPENS. GETTING YOUTH OUTDOORS MATTERS BUT DOING SO CAN BE A CHALLENGE AND NATURE-BASED EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ARE NOT EQUALLY AVAILABLE TO ALL. THIS INEQUALITY HAS FAR REACHING IMPLICATIONS ON PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND INTELLECTUAL HEATH. A NUMBER OF STUDIES HAVE DOCUMENTED THAT RELEVANT HANDS-ON EDUCATION IN NATURE AND OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENTS LIKE A FARM CAN IMPROVE SCHOOL PERFORMANCE, STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES, ATTITUDE ABOUT SCHOOL, IN-SCHOOL BEHAVIOR, AND ATTENDANCE. FARM-BASED STEM EDUCATION EMPLOYS A GREATER RANGE OF A CHILD'S INTELLIGENCE BY ENGAGING ALL OF THE SENSES, FROM DISCOVERIES WHILE PLANTING IN THE SOIL TO TASTING FRESHLY HARVESTED FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. COASTAL ROOTS FARM PROVIDES THESE TYPES OF HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES FOR YOUTH THAT ENCOURAGE CREATIVITY, CRITICAL THINKING AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY. WE ARE COMMITTED TO REACHING OUT TO UNDERSERVED, TITLE-I, AND TITLE-V SCHOOLS TO SERVE MORE STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILIES WHO WOULD NOT OTHERWISE HAVE ACCESS TO THESE EXPERIENCES. WE ENSURE ALL STUDENTS HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO QUALITY OUTDOOR EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES REGARDLESS OF FINANCIAL ABILITY. FARM EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED ON A PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN BASIS AND SCHOLARSHIPS ARE PROVIDED TO COVER THE COSTS OF PROGRAM FEES AND BUS TRANSPORTATION COSTS. THOUSANDS OF YOUTH AND FAMILY MEMBERS ARE ENGAGED AT THE FARM THROUGH PROGRAMMING AND EVENTS EACH YEAR. FROM INCEPTION IN 2014 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2019, THE FARM ENGAGED NEARLY 22,000 ADULTS AND YOUTH THROUGH EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING MORE THAN 4,500 STUDENTS THROUGH SCHOOL AND GROUP VISITS AND FARM CAMPS, OF WHOM NEARLY 3,500 WERE PROVIDED SCHOLARSHIPS TO VISIT THE FARM AT NO OR REDUCED COST.

CULTIVATING JEWISH LIFE THROUGH AGRICULTURE: COASTAL ROOTS FARM IS A JEWISH COMMUNITY FARM THAT INTEGRATES FARMING, GARDENING, AND FOOD AS A WAY TO TEACH ABOUT JEWISH TRADITION AND HERITAGE, BUILD JEWISH IDENTITY AND COMMUNITY, AND MAKE THE WORLD A MORE JUST AND SUSTAINABLE PLACE. WE ARE A LIVING JEWISH FARM, MAKING PRACTICES THAT ARE THOUSANDS OF YEARS OLD RELEVANT LESSONS FOR TODAY. THESE PRACTICES INFORM HOW WE GROW PRODUCE, SHARE BELONGINGS, TREAT NEIGHBORS, OBSERVE THE PASSING OF TIME, CELEBRATE AND IMPROVE, CARE FOR PLANTS AND ANIMALS, AND CREATE A VIBRANT, WELCOMING COMMUNITY. ALL OF THIS MAKES COASTAL ROOTS FARM A JEWISH FARM FOR EVERYONE. WE ARE INSPIRED BY ANCIENT JEWISH TRADITIONS THAT CONNECT PEOPLE TO COMMUNITY, FOOD, THE LAND, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE: BA'AL TASCHIT: ETHICAL CONSUMPTION; SHMITA: HONORING NATURAL CYCLES OF THE EARTH; PE'AH: LINING THE CORNERS OF ONE'S FIELD WITH FOOD FOR THE STRANGER AND POOR; KAYAMUT: ECOLOGICAL SUSTAINABILITY; MA'ASER: RESERVING AT LEAST ONE-TENTH OF ONE'S AGRICULTURE PRODUCE FOR THE POOR; K'VOD BRIUT: THE DIGNITY OF ALL CREATIONS; HACHNASAT ORCHIM: WELCOMING GUESTS; HAGANAT OVDIM: FAIR TREATMENT OF THOSE WHO WORK THE FIELDS; TSA'AR BA'ALEI CHAIM: KIND, HUMANE TREATMENT OF ANIMALS; TIKKUN OLAM: HEALING THE WORLD. WE ARE INSPIRED BY ANCIENT JEWISH TRADITIONS AND VALUES THAT ARE AS MEANINGFUL AND RELEVANT TODAY AS THEY HAVE BEEN OVER THOUSANDS OF YEARS AND ARE OFTEN REFLECTED IN MODERN AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES. THEY ARE ALSO THE BASIS OF OUR DEEP COMMITMENT TO THE PRINCIPLES OF FOOD JUSTICE, INCLUDING ACCESS TO FRESH, HEALTHY, AFFORDABLE, AND CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE FOOD FOR ALL; FAIR TREATMENT OF WORKERS; RESPONSIBLE LAND STEWARDSHIP; AND COMPASSIONATE TREATMENT OF ANIMALS. THESE VALUES ARE WOVEN INTO ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS. THERE ARE AT LEAST 80,000 JEWS IN NORTH SAN DIEGO COUNTY, AND IT IS ESTIMATED ALMOST 80% ARE IN INTERFAITH PARTNERSHIPS. FEWER THAN 10% OF JEWS IN THE REGION ARE AFFILIATED WITH A JEWISH INSTITUTION. BY 2022, MORE THAN 100,000 JEWS ARE PROJECTED TO BE LIVING IN THE REGION. MANY ARE SEEKING INNOVATIVE AND MEANINGFUL WAYS OUTSIDE THE WALLS OF A SYNAGOGUE OR TRADITIONAL INSTITUTION TO BUILD COMMUNITY AND JEWISH LIFE. HIGH RATES OF DISAFFILIATION AND INTERMARRIAGE ARE CONSISTENT WITH NATIONAL TRENDS MAKING NORTH SAN DIEGO COUNTY AN INTERESTING CASE STUDY FOR THE REST OF NORTH AMERICA AND EVEN BEYOND. COASTAL ROOTS FARM PROVIDES A UNIQUE SETTING TO CELEBRATE AND PRACTICE JEWISH TRADITION, LIFE, AND CULTURE THROUGH COMMUNITY-WIDE CELEBRATIONS FOR JEWISH HOLIDAYS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THE FARM IS ESPECIALLY INTERESTED IN HIGHLIGHTING THE MAJOR AGRICULTURALLY FOCUSED JEWISH HOLIDAYS THAT ARE NOT AS WIDELY OBSERVED IN SYNAGOGUES AND HOMES, PARTICULARLY IN LESSER AFFILIATED AREAS SUCH AS NORTH COUNTY, AND MAKING THEM MORE VIBRANT, CREATIVE, AND RELEVANT FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. WE INVITE COMMUNITY MEMBERS OF ALL BACKGROUNDS TO SHARE IN MAJOR AGRICULTURAL FESTIVALS LIKE SUKKOT (A FESTIVAL CELEBRATING THE FINAL HARVEST OF THE GROWING SEASON); TU B'SHVAT (THE JEWISH NEW YEAR OF THE TREES); PESACH (A CELEBRATION OF SPRING AND THE FIRST HARVEST); AND SHAVUOT (A CELEBRATION OF THE SUMMER HARVEST). FROM INCEPTION IN 2014 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2019, THE FARM ENGAGED NEARLY 5,000 COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH JEWISH AGRICULTURAL FESTIVALS. WE ARE ALSO PROUD TO BE PART OF A NATIONAL MOVEMENT OF JEWISH COMMUNITY FARMING AND PART OF A FIELD BUILDING INITIATIVE WHICH INTEGRATES JEWISH EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION WITH AGRICULTURE. THE INITIATIVE'S PURPOSE IS TO CULTIVATE COMMUNITY, PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND FOOD JUSTICE, FOSTER OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEANINGFUL SPIRITUAL ENGAGEMENT AND PERSONAL GROWTH, AND STRENGTHEN JEWISH LIFE.

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