COMMON ROOTS FARM

COMMON ROOTS FARM'S MISSION IS TO BRING TOGETHER PEOPLE WITH AND WITHOUT DISABILITIES TO GROW HEALTHY FOOD, BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS, AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS THAT SUSTAIN EVERYONE. WE ACCOMPLISH THIS BY OPERATING A PRODUCTION FARM GROWING 25+ FOOD CROPS AND 30+ FLOWER VARIETIES FOR SALE DIRECTLY TO THE PUBLIC. WE OFFER INTERNSHIPS AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES TO PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, HOST EDUCATIONAL FARM-BASED WORK DAYS FOR SCHOOLS AND CORPORATE GROUPS, AND HOST SOCIAL EVENTS TO HELP BREAK THE ISOLATION SO COMMON WITH PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. WE OPERATED A 55 MEMBER COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE SUBSCRIPTION (CSA) PROGRAM, PARTICIPATED IN LOCAL POP UP MARKETS, AND HELD A HARVEST FESTIVAL FEATURING A WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE DANCE FLOOR, LOCAL ARTISTS, AND GAMES FOR ALL ABILITIES.DURING OUR 2022-2023 SEASON WE HOSTED THREE DIFFERENT DAY PROGRAMS, EACH COMPRISING APPROXIMATELY 15-20 PEOPLE, AGED 22+, WHO LIVE WITH INTELLECTUAL/DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. EACH GROUP PARTICIPATED ON THE FARM ONE DAY/WEEK AND STAYED FOR LUNCH. ACTIVITIES INCLUDED SEED SOWING, PLANT CARE, GARDEN EDUCATION, ANIMAL FEEDING AND CARE, AND FLOWER BOUQUET MAKING. WE ALSO HOSTED A WEEKLY ACCESSIBLE GARDEN CLUB AND A WEEKLY ACCESSIBLE OUTDOOR ART CLASS. BOTH WERE HELD IN OUR ACCESSIBLE SEED TO SALAD GARDEN. THE FARM ADDED AN OUTDOOR KITCHEN TO THIS AREA TO BE ABLE TO OFFER FARM-BASED COOKING AND NUTRITION CLASSES TO OUR TARGET POPULATION AND THEIR SUPPORT STAFF. COMMON ROOTS ALSO HIRED ANOTHER INTERN THROUGH THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA'S 'EMPLOYMENT OF PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES BLUEPRINT' PROGRAM. WE ALSO PROVIDED EMPLOYMENT TO TWO INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. ON FARM VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES WERE MADE AVAILABLE FOR OVER 300 PEOPLE, WITH A FOCUS ON SUPPORTING VOLUNTEERS WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR CAREGIVERS IN PARTICIPATING IN OUR FARM OPERATION. WE ENGAGED 15-20 REGULAR, WEEKLY VOLUNTEERS THROUGHOUT THE SEASON, MOST OF WHOM ARE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. OUR VOLUNTEERS ASSISTED WITH ALL ASPECTS OF OUR PRODUCTION, INCLUDING WORKING IN OUR WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE GREENHOUSE TO PROPAGATE SEEDS AS WELL AS PLANTING, TENDING, HARVESTING AND DISTRIBUTING FOOD AND FLOWER CROPS IN OUR FIELDS. WE HOSTED GROUPS FROM TWO OTHER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WHO HELD EVENTS ON THE FARM. IN OUR 2023 SEASON, WE BUILT UPON THE SUCCESSES OF PREVIOUS YEARS BY EXPANDING OUR VOLUNTEER SLOTS, OUR CSA CUSTOMER BASE, AND OUR SURPLUS PRODUCE DONATION PROGRAM TO OUR LOCAL PARTNER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TO ALLEVIATE FOOD INSECURITY IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE CONTINUED TO ENGAGE SEVERAL VOLUNTEERS WHO CAME FOR MORE INTENSIVE LEARNING ABOUT SMALL SCALE AGRICULTURE AND WHO RECEIVED A SMALL STIPEND.COMMON ROOTS FARM HOSTED SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS, INCLUDING WELCOMING STUDENTS WITH SEVERE DISABILITIES AS WELL AS REGULAR EDUCATION STUDENTS FROM ELEMENTARY THROUGH POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION. WE ALSO ENGAGED 20-25 VOLUNTEERS IN A SERIES OF MONTHLY WEEKEND WORKDAYS ON THE FARM, ACCOMPLISHING NUMEROUS TASKS SUCH AS REPAIRING FENCING, INSTALLING A MOVEABLE SHADE STRUCTURE, PLANTING OUT ACCESSIBLE ROLL-INTO BEDS AND BUILDING DISPLAY STRUCTURES FOR A PLANT SALE. WE EXPANDED OUR POST-SECONDARY VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM TO SERVE MORE STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES COMING FROM THREE DIFFERENT CLASSROOMS AND WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION'S WORKABILITY PROGRAM.