On the Horizon Thanksgiving 2016
Happy Thanksgiving from Soil Born Farms
We are filled with gratitude!
I give thanks daily for the continued energy, wisdom, passion and strength to be a force of healing and health for this world. It is a true blessing to wake up each morning and know that I have the opportunity daily to help improve the lives of my family, friends and neighbors through our work at Soil Born Farms. ~ Shawn Harrison, Founder & Co-Director
I am grateful for my dedicated Year Round Garden Team volunteers because they make my week brighter and accomplish so much at the farm. ~Michele Ranieri, Greenhouse & Edible City Manager
I am grateful for 2 things: I can ride my bike to the farm and that I get to work with a dedicated staff passionate about creating and supporting this amazing place for the community. ~ Andrea Jaggers, Operations Manager
I am thankful that I get to share the delightful wonders of growing food with so many students – in hopes of empowering, encouraging, and supporting them on the way! ~ Brit Schneider, Youth Education Coordinator
I am grateful for to be surrounded by colleagues who are committed to creating positive change in our community, who have found a way to make a difference in the world around them. ~ Melanie Choy, Programs Manager
I am grateful for the strong women who have inspired me in my personal life and professional life to be strong, stay strong and persevere through small and big challenges. ~ Clara Villalobos Andino, Farmer Education Manager
I am grateful to work for an organization who is making a significant impact improving lives and health in our community by increasing awareness of the importance of connecting food, health and the environment. ~ Liz Shahbazian, Development Manager
I am grateful knowing that many of the youth that visit here will grow up eating fresh food because the seeds they sowed and watch grow in the youth garden also grew in their hearts. ~ Daniel Montelbetti, Youth Education & Operations Assistant
I am grateful for a workplace that provides a caring and compassionate place to grow, both professionally and personally. Also, I really love that we use Quickbooks. ~Callie Urner, Financial Manager
I am grateful for the changing of seasons and the calm, crisp morning air it brings to the farm. ~ Nicole Carpenter, Admin Assistant
I am grateful that I get to share the magic of this work with young people and their families; the wonders of the natural world, the power of community, the gratification of growing good food and the joy of the harvest. ~Alyssa Kassner, Roots & Wings Youth Education Coordinator
I am grateful to be around so many kind, genuine people and for the ongoing opportunity to grow and contribute within this organization. ~Rebecca Le, Communications Coordinator
I am grateful for the opportunities to be greeted by sunrises, hungry pigs and dew soaked pastures. ~ Scott Dunbar, Ranch Coordinator
When I see homeless, hungry people or hear of children saving part of their school lunch to eat for dinner my heart breaks. It makes me grateful to spend my days working to help provide healthy food for those who need it most in our community and for all of my blessings. ~ Janet Zeller, Founder & Co Director
I am grateful to have had the opportunity to strengthen my connection and involvement to this farm and it’s role in our communities food system. It’s something I can control. ~ Tyler Stowers, Farm Manager
I am thankful that each day I get to experience our school gardens through a child’s eye with all their creative observations and incredible excitement. ~ Shannon Hardwicke, School Gardens Manager
I am grateful that our Adult Education Program offers a breadth of core gardening, cooking, herbal studies, animal husbandry and nature classes at low, affordable prices to encourage everyone in our community to participate in a sustainable local food system. ~ Adriana Jones, Adult Education Coordinator
There will be a new addition to our family this winter and I am especially thankful and grateful for friends and family. ~ Elle Huftill- Balzer, Farm Manager
I have so much gratitude for our farmers, work traders and volunteers that provide our community with healthy, fresh, seasonal produce! ~ Michelle Sikora, Kitchen & Nutrition Coordinator
I feel very grateful to get to do such meaningful work with Sacramento area communities while working day-to-day with the amazing team at Soil Born Farms! ~ Dominic Allamano, Edible City Manager
Please Support Our Fundraising Drive Today!
Help Us Reduce Hunger and Improve Health for Those in Need
Your gift will sustain Soil Born Farms and advance our shared vision. Working together we are building a healthy, just and vibrant community where all can thrive. Little by little, step by step, we will create the change we wish to see in the world. Your tax-deductible gifts will be matched. Thank you!
Some of our accomplishments this year:
64,000 lbs. of produce grown and harvested for families in need.
96,780 plants were seeded in our greenhouse.
800 families shopped at our Farmstand and tasted over 70 recipes.
3,486 Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) boxes were packed.
Harvest Sacramento Branching Out
Supporting School Gardens for an Edible City
On November 5, we joined 130 volunteers and our partners at the Sacramento Tree Foundation for a Neighborwoods in South Sac tree planting event at Samuel Kennedy Elementary School. We planted 38 new shade trees on campus and rebuilt their school garden. In the coming months we’ll plant more shade, fruit and evergreen trees at the homes of the kids and in the neighborhoods around the school. More planting events to be announced soon.
We are offering more volunteer trainings to expand our team of urban food foresters, with a harvest group leader training on Dec 10, plus a winter fruit tree care workshop with Leo Buc from Common Vision on Dec 3. Citrus Season 2017 events begin with a 1/7 harvest event hosted by the Colonial Heights Library, our annual MLK Day 1/16 afternoon citrus event with Edible Sac High, and weekly citrus events continuing into early spring. Look for event dates and details on our our website and our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages.
For more information or to get involved with Harvest Sacramento’s programs, contact Edible City Coordinator Dominic Allamano.
Winter Classes at the American River Ranch
Let Us Inspire You! Pre-Registration Required
View complete schedule of classes, events, instructor info and registration >>
Herbs for Healthy Digestion
Saturday, December 3 • 9am to 12pm
Fruit Tree Care
Saturday, December 3 • 12:30 to 4:30pm
Succulent Wreath Workshop
Wednesday, December 7 • 6 to 8pm
The Art of Home Cooking: Condiments–Homemade Gifts!
Wednesday, December 14 • 6 to 8pm
Herbs for the New Year
Wednesday, January 4 • 6 to 7:30pm • FREE
Pre-registration is required to reserve a seat.
Save the Date
A Garden in Every School Symposium
Saturday, February 25 & Sunday, February 26 • Luther Burbank High School
Early Bird registration opens November 28. More information >>
Let’s Get a Garden in Every School by 2020
Become a Symposium Sponsor and Change Lives
Are you interested in positively impacting youth in our community? Do you want to help children by strengthening their connection with health, education and the environment? We need your financial support as we bring together educators, community leaders, garden designers and others to strengthen the school garden movement in our region. Contact Liz Shahbazian or Janet Zeller.
Get Involved! Volunteer Opportunities
There are Many Ways to Engage with Soil Born Farms
Enjoy Winter at Your Community Farm and Volunteer!
Sign up to receive a monthly update with volunteer opportunities >>
Select the volunteer opportunities option or contact Rebecca Le, 916 363.9685 x1006.
Vote for Soil Born Farms!
SBF is Finalist in the YelpFoundation Gives Local Grant Contest
Funds from the YelpFoundation would help us install a new walk-in cooler so we can grow and store more food to feed more families. Visit yfgiveslocal.org to cast your vote once per day from November 29 to December 9. No personal donation is required to participate. We appreciate your support!
Eat Your Veggies: Seasonal Side Dishes
Roasted Squash with Caramelized Onions & Cranberry Preserves
Roasted squash represents the heart of cold weather meals, caramelized onions add a wonderful sweetness, and fresh rosemary and cranberry sauce dress everything up for the holidays. This is an easy delicious side dish that complements anything from a weekday family dinner to a special holiday celebration
Join us for exciting volunteer opportunities with our edible city programs. On November 5, we’ll be joining our partners at the Sacramento Tree Foundation for a Neighborwoods tree planting event in South Sac at Samuel Kennedy Elementary School. 
Succulent Terrarium Workshop
Taste and purchase fresh-from-the-field seasonal produce and enjoy organic coffee and delicious Magpie Café baked goods. Learn how to prepare seasonal vegetables in simple and delicious ways at our Eat Your Veggies demo. We have a unique selection of practical gifts, flowers, succulents, gourmet mushrooms and herbs.
Diet is an important contributor to health and to disease. Most countries face nutritional problems, from undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies to obesity and diet-related diseases (such as type II diabetes and certain types of cancer), or a mix of these. 
Do you share our passion for helping young people learn about healthy food and the environment? We have received a tremendous response to our school garden program. We need volunteers who are comfortable working with kids in grades K-6 who are able to make a regular commitment of at least 3 hours once a week. Volunteers will make it possible for our team to get more classes into the garden at several schools. You will be deeply rewarded as you see students inspired and transformed in these dynamic learning spaces. 
Thanks to our generous supporters including County Supervisors Phil Serna, Patrick Kennedy, Roberta MacGlashan and Don Nottoli, we were able to raise $30,000 in less than two weeks to purchase a reliable, new tractor! We are excited and overwhelmed with gratitude. At Soil Born Farms, a tractor is more than just a piece of farm equipment; it is a vehicle to help us change lives. With our land in production soon increasing by 100%, a new tractor will allow us to improve the health of our community by: 
Plant Sale: Fill your fall and winter garden with seasonal vegetables, flowers, medicinal and culinary herbs, drought tolerant ornamental and edible perennials.
Get your tickets today for an evening at the historic American River Ranch located on the American River Parkway in Rancho Cordova. Stroll around the farm and gardens and enjoy live music by Mind X Quartet and Jimbo, Johnnie and Junior. Sample seasonal and organic food prepared by prominent local chefs and taste exceptional wine and beer selections. Don’t miss this traditional farm-to-fork event. Celebrate the harvest season under the stars.
This after school program offers an opportunity for young women ages 14 through 18 to engage with the outdoor world and deepen their connection to themselves, their health, their environment and each other. Activities include: gardening • cooking and eating together • health and nutrition • medicinal, edible and traditional uses of plants • wild harvesting for food and medicine • wild crafted art • exploring the American River Parkway• learning about Native People of California.
Learn the basics of Western Herbology while integrating it with the systems of Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese medicine. This six-month beginners course will include medicine-making, plant ID, how to treat acute ailments, use of tonic herbs and food for strengthening vitality, as well as how to harvest local herbs for medicine. You will learn about your own constitutional needs and ways to balance yourself for better health and well-being. This program will include herb walks around the farm and the American River. There will be lots of tasting, smelling and hands-on experience with Rev. Candis Cantin, Integrative Herbalist, Counselor & Teacher. Saturdays: October 8, November 12, December 10, January 14, February 11, March 11. All classes will be held at the American River Ranch. Early Bird Registration: $475. After 9/8, Regular Price: $525. 
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 a local community farm and education center. We still have a few Spring/Summer shares available. We are offering a proration for the remaining number of weeks. Early bird registration for our Fall/Winter season will be available starting on Mon. September 12.