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Work and Learn on Wellness Wednesdays

Looking for a fun way to get some exercise, fresh air and sunshine? Play, make friends, get your hands in the soil and nourish your spirit. Volunteers are welcome every Wednesday to assist the the staff in tending our mother and teaching gardens at the American River Ranch. You will learn about medicinal herbs, native plants, flowers, trees, vegetables and succulents. Volunteers support with greenhouse activities, plant sales and fruit tree orchard care. Tasks change with the season. It’s an opportunity to gain knowledge and build skills. Beginning and experienced gardeners are welcome. Help us plan accordingly, sign up for a volunteer shift in advance >>

Double Your Impact: Matching Grant Extended to Jan. 18

Invest in the Possibilities. In the spring of 2000, a seed holding the vision of what Soil Born Farms could become was planted in a vacant field behind Betsy Collins’ home on Hurley Way. This seed, cultivated with love and hard work and sustained by the support of a small number of donors and community partners, has blossomed into a powerful force for change in America’s Farm-to-Fork Capital. Our talented team of farmers, educators, activists and volunteers has accomplished a lot but there is much more to do. Soil Born Farms Urban Agriculture & Education Project is at a pivotal point in our mission to improve health, reduce hunger and move into the next phase of development of our Center for Food Health & the Environment at the American River Ranch. We need your financial support to continue this legacy project.

Double your impact. Help us meet our end-of-the-year fundraising goal of $150,000 by making a tax-deductible investment in Soil Born Farms by Jan. 18. Your gift will be matched with generous support from the Dave & Maxine Clark Family up to $75,000.

Priorities and Accomplishments

Grow More Food and Farmers

Develop a one-acre training garden to teach home-scale farming, manage our young fruit tree orchard and train more farming apprentices and urban gardeners. Help reduce hunger neighborhood by neighborhood. We have trained 59 beginning farmers since 2000. 1,795 adults attended classes in 2018.

Advance the School Garden Initiative

Cultivate relationships with partners and share resources across the region. Advocate for a garden in every school. Provide life-changing experiences for more students grades 1–12 attending Title 1 schools. Host A Garden in Every School Symposium on March 14 and 15, 2020. Our team engages more than 2,557 students in the garden during the school year at ten campuses in South Sacramento and Rancho Cordova.

Seed the Future of the Edible City

Install a new greenhouse, purchase supplies and equipment, and establish a nursery to provide starts of vegetables, fruit tree stock, native edibles, and medicinal and culinary herbs. This will support the visionary initiatives of our Harvest Sacramento, Growing Together and Grow Your Groceries programs. Since 2010, over 386,060 pounds of fruit has been gleaned and donated to families in need. This year, 130,000 plants were seeded in our greenhouse and over 118 varieties.

Restore and Develop the Historic American River Ranch

Construct the new Farmstand building to include a snack bar, commercial kitchen and cooking school, upgrade the parking lots and install a shade structure in the outdoor theatre. Over 4,200 students enjoyed hands-on experiences at the American River Ranch this year.

Partner with Soil Born Farms

In addition to raising essential funds to sustain our programs and initiatives, we are seeking individual and corporate partners to help us advance important priority projects in 2019. Contact Shawn Harrison or Janet Zeller for more info: (916) 363.9685 x1015.

Fund-a-Need: Mini-Jack Tincture Press

Our herbal studies program teaches people how to care for themselves and their families. students learn how to make herbal tea, cook with herbs and prepare natural medicine for healing using plants they can grow in their own backyard. We want to show people how to make herbal extracts and oils using a Tincture Press. This will provide students with practical experience and increase the value they receive from classes we offer. We need this important tool to launch a micro-business using organic herbs grown at the farm to make a line of herbal products that will help fund the work of our nonprofit organization and train youth. ($565)

We need additional funds to invest in priority needs for each program beyond our budgeted fundraising goals. Funding a need will be a game changer for our programs. Cash, check, card or pledges accepted. Donate online >>

After School Program: Cook’s Club

NEW! This pilot after school program is designed to give youth hands-on cooking experiences and seed-to-table knowledge about nutrition, organic produce and culinary herbs. Teens will prepare and share dishes that are both tasty and healthy. Our farm-to-fork recipes will inspire healthy eating habits, teach basic culinary skills while building a supportive community. We are devoted to giving every teen the opportunity of a positive connection to whole foods and empowering them to cook for themselves and their families. Dinner included every time we meet. Held on Tuesdays: Oct. 23, Nov. 13 and 27 and Dec. 4 and 11 from 3:30 to 6pm. Price: $199 includes meals. Register >>

Empowerment for Young Women

Our after school program is an opportunity for young women ages 13–18 to engage with the natural world and deepen their connection to themselves, their environment, their health and each other. This program will build community and support teens in healthy transitions toward adulthood. Through interactions with the land, we aim to empower young women to build inner strength and confidence as well as learn valuable leadership and life skills. The program will be flexible and adapted to meet the interests and passions of the group.

Activities will include: gardening • cooking and eating together • health and nutrition medicinal, edible and traditional uses of plants • wild crafted art • exploring the American River Parkway.

The program is ten sessions, held on the second Wednesday of the month, from September 13 to June 13, 2018, 3:30–5:30pm at American River Ranch.

Program Cost: $150/ $125 Early Bird (ends August 13). Scholarships available. For more information, contact Alyssa >>

Register for the program >>