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Nonprofit Farm Aims To Grow Its Opportunities

In 2019, Coastal Roots Farm, an Encinitas-based nonprofit Jewish community farm and education center, was awarded a $15,000 grant from Simply Organic’s Giving Fund, an all-organic spices and herbs brand headquartered in Norway, Iowa. This year, Coastal Roots — sitting on 17 acres of the 67.5 acres Leichtag Foundation ranch, which focuses on combating poverty and increasing self-sufficiency for residents of North County — will use that money to support its efforts of growing, harvesting and distributing organic produce to community members in need.

Food Donation

“One pillar of our program is about food donation… (and) we do that in a couple of ways,” said Kesha Spoor, philanthropy and communications manager at Coastal Roots Farm, which was incubated by Leichtag in 2014 and became its own nonprofit organization in 2015. “First, we have a ‘pay what you can’ farm stand, open twice a week on the property… The other way is we have a pop-up market in two places: one at Camp Pendleton and the other at Vista Community Clinic, a nonprofit clinic in North County that serves underserved community members that lack access to these services. These are completely free. We also do deliveries to a business called Mercy Housing Cantebria Senior Homes, for low income seniors, and then also to a delivery program for local Holocaust survivors.”

Support

Corporate support, including sponsorships and grants, account for $169,000 of Coastal Farms budgeted funds from Oct. 2019 to Sept. 2020, said Spoor. Private contributions from individuals and foundations are roughly $1 million; government support equals almost $57,000; social enterprise and earned revenue from the likes of the farm stand, composting, community events and festivals, farm camps, school and group visits and farm tours are $231,550; and other fundraising efforts equal $204,960, she said, for a total revenue of $1.7 million for FY ending Sept. 2020. This is the second year that Simply Organic has funded Coastal Roots Farm and its mission, said Spoor; they also donated $25,000 last year and are one of the farm’s most generous corporate partners, she said.

“Some revenue is earned from programs — we do camps and festivals and school visits (and) those have suggested donations. So, when they participate and pay what they can for those programs, that goes back to our budget,” said Spoor. “We have individual donors, we call them the ‘Farm Founders,’ who are committed to our mission and impact, and give money from their own generosity. And then we have foundations we partner with. Also, some government grants, plus corporations — all that contributes to our fundraising.”

The Harvests

In terms of agriculture, Coastal Roots Farm harvest changes seasonally, Spoor said. During this part of the year, it grows a lot of leafy greens, she said, while the summer gets a little more colorful with the growth of a variety of fruits and veggies. In the fall, squash is pretty popular, and strawberries are grown all year round, Spoor said. Right now, because the farm plants ahead, Coastal Roots Farm just seeded its summer squash, said Spoor. It grows 40,000 pounds of food a year, she said, and distributes to 20,000 people annually.

Since inception, Coastal Roots Farm has donated 121,135 pounds of food; distributed 182,210 pounds of food (including what it sells); reached 149,171 individuals through distribution and 26,387 through education and events; and diverted 3.77 million pounds of waste from the landfill because of its compost operation, according to Spoor.

Educational Space

Aside from expansion plans with the Simply Organic grant money, Coastal Roots Farm hopes to grow its reach in other ways. Spoor said another area that is expanding for Coastal Roots Farm right now is its educational space. She said the farm has an indoor/outdoor STEM lab that opened recently and serves students from pre-k through 12th grade. Through the program, school groups are able to come to Coastal and get their hands dirty in soil, experience a real production farm, get to know the farmers and its pollinators and get educated on the overall food system, Spoor said.

Besides school visits and the farm stand, Coastal Roots Farm also holds Farm Camp for four to 10-year-olds; private and public tours; volunteer opportunities three days a week; a Jewish Agricultural Festival a couple of times a year; birthday parties; and private events in a wooden barn, added Spoor. At press time, thanks to a generous donation from an investor, Spoor said Coastal Roots Farm’s farm stand was receiving a much-needed face-lift. And, in the near future, she hopes to add a nature play area to farm.

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