About

Modeling and Teaching Sustainable Agriculture

San Diego Roots is developing our first sustainable farm and education center just outside the city’s sprawl, just 15 minutes from Downtown (Click here for map and directions).

Located: on the north banks of the scenic Tijuana River Park (USA) just north of the Mexican border. The farm is less than three miles from the Pacific Ocean and enjoys a moderate climate throughout the year, and is adjacent to the Tijuana River Estuary with its abundant wildlife, scenic views and peaceful setting.

A vision for the farm...

Winter 2011. Design by Misha M. Johnson.

About WWF

Located in the Tijuana River Valley, 15 minutes from downtown San Diego, where state-of-the-art water efficiency methods, water harvesting, permaculture practices, and non-imported water from the river aquifer will be used in the cultivation of our fields and food.
Grows delicious and nutritious food for the local market, reducing the distance that food must travel to reach our forks, and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions caused by our food.
Reduces food security risks associated with middleman processing and distribution, while contributing to a more secure, just and sustainable food system and promoting a more robust, local economy.
Models intelligent agricultural methods that sustain healthy soils, crops, water supplies and eco-systems.
Creates an on-the-farm education program to work in conjunction with San Diego City College's Sustainable Agriculture Certification Program. This program will train the next generation of sustainable farmers for our unique region.
Works to preserve agricultural variety by growing heirloom and open-pollinated, non-patented food crops; protecting biological diversity by defending the adjacent, native habitat against non-toxic methods of pests and weed control; and inviting native predators and pollinators into our farm.
Educates, inspires and empowers learners of all ages to grow and prepare life-giving food. Experiential education field trips for K-12 students address essential ecological and health-related themes through engaging hands-on presentations and tours. Family and adult programs cultivate meaningful skills such as: composting and soil building, gardening, healthy cooking, preserving food, local action for global citizens, and more.

A Victory Gardens class learns about planting a keyhole bed.

Educating, cultivating, and empowering sustainable food communities in San Diego.

Goals

Healthy Bodies, Communities, Economies, & Ecosystems: Sustainable Agriculture Enhances Quality of Life at all Levels.

To provide an exceptional model of sustainable agriculture in San Diego County.We will grow quality organic foods for the San Diego community that nourish the body, mind and spirit; re-connect people with their land, their farmers and one another; demonstrate and teach sustainable agricultural practices that enhance ecosystem health; promote volunteerism; and provide workshops on sustainable, healthy food topics. Ultimately, we plan to create a family of farms that will transform our local food system as well as residents’ awareness about the importance of freshly grown, unconventional food.
To inspire and educate children and adults on the ecological, economic, health and environmental benefits of sustainable agriculture.Roots Farm @ Suzie's will host school-to-farm field trips for students throughout San Diego County with programs about: the science and art of growing food; making connections with nature; proper care and nutrition of our Earthbodies for optimum health; and more. The farm is only 14 miles from downtown San Diego and is easily accessible by tens of thousands of school children in south coastal San Diego County.Our farmers, educators and students will engage in experiential learning with lessons in: composting; amending soil; planting seeds; tending crops; harvesting produce; preparing food on the farm; plus more. All participants will be provided with resources and tools for creating gardens at their homes, in their neighborhoods and at their schools.
To create a college-accredited farmer education program to teach sustainable agricultural practices and provide opportunities to farm locally.Roots’ future farmer training program will ensure that our local food-growing heritage returns to the vitality and strength that it once had. Teachers and administrators at San Diego City College are working together to develop curriculum and hands-on training programs for offering students an accredited certificate program in sustainable agriculture.Demand exceeds current capacity in our Organic Farming Workshops and Seeds at City Urban Farm student internships. Many young people want to grow food organically as a response to solving multiple, interrelated social and environmental problems. We will partner with other local, compatible organizations to integrate their work with refugees and recent immigrants to San Diego; teach local farming practices; provide opportunities to grow quality food; and promote essential job skills.
To promote greater regional food security and ecosystem health.Our goal is to enhance and preserve our region’s best farmland so that we can feed current and future generations of San Diegans; create greater food security for our growing population; and to promote local agriculture, along with a secure regional food system, as a means to strengthen our local economy.Enjoying the farm’s natural beauty, learning about life cycles, food production and health, and working cooperatively, will all have a lasting impact on our children.