Blog Style Three – Classic

Saturday, August 27 • 8am to 1pm

Get Ready to Grow! Visit our organic plant sale to fill your garden with vegetable starts, edible perennials, medicinal and culinary herbs, succulents and fruit trees which will provide food and beauty through the fall and winter. All plants are organically grown with love and selected for the Sacramento area. Pick up high quality potting soil, compost and seeds and chat with our farmers and educators. Shop early for the best selection. Download Plant List >>

Free Gardening Clinic

Free Classes, Talks and Tours. Learn how to grow vibrant, tasty, and healthy plants from Soil Born Farms’ knowledgeable staff and community educators. Activities include: preparing your fall garden, growing fall/winter greens, seed saving, wreath making, native plant walk, regenerative agriculture farm tour, master beekeeper Q&A, and more. This is a rain or shine event. Registration will occur at the event ONLY and is on a first-come, first-served basis. Check in for tickets at the turquoise Event Tent. Schedule is subject to change.

Class Schedule

8:00–8:45am Preparing a Fall Garden with Shawn Harrison, Soil Born Farms
9:00–9:45am Drip Irrigation for the Home or School Garden with Shannon Hardwicke, Soil Born Farms
9:00–9:45am Master Beekeeper Q&A with Rachel Morrison, The Beecharmers
10:00–10:45am Attracting Birds and Beneficials to Your Backyard with Cliff Hawley
10:00–10:45am Preparing a Fall Garden with Shawn Harrison
11:00–11:45am Growing Greens Tyler Stowers, Soil Born Farms
12:00–12:45pm Master Beekeeper Q&A with Rachel Morrison, The Beecharmers

Tours, Walks & Talks

8:00–8:45am Regenerative Agriculture Farm Tour with Zebulon Siegel, Soil Born Farms
9:00–9:45am Native Plant Walk with Mark Shaffer, Happy Grow Lucky LLC and CNPS (California Native Plant Society)
9:00–9:45am Regenerative Agriculture Farm Tour with Tyler Stowers
10:00–10:45am Wreath Making Demo with Dried Flowers with Lacey Carlson, Soil Born Farms
11:00–11:45am Explore Volunteer Opportunities in the Gardens, Farm and Kitchen with Vanessa Forwood, Soil Born Farms
12:00–12:45pm Intro to Seed Saving with Kellan MacKay, Soil Born Farms
12:00–12:45pm Regenerative Agriculture Farm Tour with Shawn Harrison

Farmhouse Kitchen Pop-up Brunch

9am–1pm (or until sold out) Fundraiser: Proceeds Benefit the Culinary Arts Program
Organic Garden Bowl $12
Greens, Whole Grains, Veggies (Gluten-free and Vegetarian, Vegan option available)
Farm Fresh Frittata Plate $12
Roasted Potatoes, Mixed Green Salad (Gluten-free, Vegetarian)
Lil’ Sprouts Plate $7
Three organic pancakes and fresh fruit served with organic maple syrup and organic butter

More information >>

Co-sponsored by Sacramento Natural Foods Coop

Soil Born Featured in Comstock’s Magazine

Read the Comstock’s Magazine article about regenerative agriculture practices in our area. Soil Born Farm’s shift toward a regenerative management plan is slow and one of continuous learning that strategically introduces new agricultural methods. As the farm reopens to the public—that’s expected late spring or early summer—those practices will have an even stronger presence in the farm’s (urban agriculture educational) curriculum. Read the article: Regenerating Our Soil >>

Special Summer Program

Through experiential learning, discovery and play, youth will deepen their connection to food, health and the environment. Participants will explore, create, learn, sing and enjoy the outdoors. Kids on the Farm classes are designed for youth ages 7 to 11 years old. Each themed class will be unique and can be enjoyed as individual classes or taken as a series.

Thursdays from June 24 through July 29, 8:30 to 11:30 am. Price: $30 per class.

For more information and to register >>

June 24: Pollinator Palooza
July 1: We Dig Dirt
July 8: Roots, Shoots and Seeds
July 15: Nature Creations
July 22: Calling All Critters
July 29: Water Wizards

Help Us Survive and Thrive

If ever there was a time to support local nonprofits that mean something to you, it’s now. We know many of you are struggling too. But, if you are able and Soil Born Farms is special to you, please consider giving what you can to help us continue our work in these trying times. Thank you!

Enjoy sweet stories shared by the talented individuals making the magic happen at Soil Born Farms. Sweet Stories >>

Good Medicine for the Times

Our organic farmers are committed to environmental stewardship of the American River Ranch by practicing regenerative agriculture principles. Working with nature, cultivating healthy soil, reducing weed pressure, choosing varieties that grow well in this climate results in healthy food that is nutrient rich and delicious. Our produce is incredible this year. We are excited to offer Veggie Rx farm packs for you and your loved ones. Order in advance at our online marketplace each week from Tuesdays at 5pm to Thursdays at 9am. We’ll harvest and pack your order to be ready at your scheduled pickup time on Saturdays at our Drive-thru Farmstand between 8am and 12pm.

There are two convenient pack sizes to meet your veggie needs. The Individual pack (4 items) is $15 and the Family pack (8 items) is $25. Each pack will be filled with good nutrition based on what we have in the field ready for harvest. This summer we will add a fruit pack. You will also be able to purchase individual items from a selection of organic produce grown at Soil Born Farms and other local farms each week. Weekly seasonal produce will be updated on Tuesday when the online marketplace opens. When you purchase produce from Soil Born Farms you are helping us continue our mission to train beginning farmers and inspire everyone to choose, cook and grow healthy food.

Pop-Up Online Organic Plant Sale

Our May Day online pop-up event SOLD OUT in record time, thank you all for your enthusiasm and support! Watch for details about our next online sale, a pop-up for Mother’s Day, which will be accepting orders on Wednesday, May 6 with drive-through order pickup on Friday, May 8… In the meantime, you can browse the marketplace to view the goods. We will be adding more gift items this week.

REMINDER for people with orders that were placed this week: Drive-through order pick-up will take place on this Friday, May 1.*

Customer Service: info@soilborn.org

American River Ranch, 2140 Chase Drive, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670.

*Please note: The farm is closed to the public until further notice so you will need to stay in your cars and we will load your purchases. Wear face coverings, bring your own gloves and maintain social distance. Only people who have ordered plants in advance will have access. Arrive at your scheduled pick-up time to avoid waiting.

Victory Gardens Making a Comeback in 2020

“Growing your own food is like printing your own money” ~Ron Finley

Soil Born Farms has been inspiring and teaching families to grow some of their own food and herbs since 2000. One of the original objectives of Victory Gardens that started during World War I applies to the current challenge we face today— “to maintain the vitality and morale of Americans on the home front through the production of nutritious vegetables outdoors.” We know that spending time in nature and getting our hands in the soil goes a long way to reduce anxiety and boost our immune system. Nothing beats the flavor or nutritional value of food straight from the garden. Let’s get growing!

As we prioritize health and safety guidelines currently in place at the farm we are thrilled to offer collections of organic starts of vegetables, herbs and flowers and fruit trees to create a victory garden or add to your home garden, patio, backyard orchard or urban farm. We’ve selected varieties that do well in our climate. The Greenhouse Garden Shop is a micro business that grows healthy seedlings for the farm, school gardens, community gardens and home gardens while engaging youth and adults in the process. The greenhouse and fruit tree nursery are important components of our Grow Your Groceries and Harvest Sacramento programs. Proceeds benefit SBF education programs.

A Poem by Wendell Berry

I will wait here in the fields
to see how well the rain
brings on the grass.
In the labor of the fields
longer than a man’s life
I am at home. Don’t come with me.
You stay home too.

I will be standing in the woods
where the old trees
move only with the wind
then with the gravity.
In the stillness of the trees
I am at home. Don’t come with me.
You stay home too.

Our Farmstand, all classes and events are on hold at the moment… Please check back as we are monitoring the COVID-19 guidelines for re-opening services and responding accordingly.

Thank you for Attending our 17th Annual Fundraiser

Thank you for your generous support of our Autumn Equinox Celebration! The event is a labor of love with many wonderful people and organizations collaborating to make it happen. We are grateful for the support we receive to restore and develop the historic American River Ranch. It is a community treasure filled with possibilities that we are proud to make accessible to the public.

Please stay involved with Soil Born Farms. We rely on your generous donations of time and money to help us grow organic food, feed families, educate youth and adults, train new farmers and gardeners, inspire healthy living and create a regional center for food, health and the environment. Together we can make a difference and improve the quality of life in our community.
View event photos by Joan Cusick and Brian B. Fox >>

Many thanks to our event partners, title sponsor and underwriters:

Sign-up for the Fall/Winter Season

As a Soil Born Farms CSA member, the impact of your dollars goes beyond putting healthy, organic, delicious food on your table. This investment in Soil Born Farms allows you to reconnect with the land, know your farmers and participate directly in a local food system. In addition, you provide valuable support for innovative education programs, food access initiatives and the development of our nonprofit community farm and education center. You can choose to receive a CSA farm box every week or every other week. Sign up by phone with Kara, 916-363-9685 Ext. 1005. For more info >>