The Carpinteria, CA Garden Project
Farming up Shepards Mesa
We came back from doing our project in Esterillos Oeste, Costa Rica and right away we knew that we wanted to be part of the hunger solution in the greater Santa Barbara area. As we began exploring our options to farm vegetables to give away to the less fortunate community residing in Santa Barbara, CA; a fantastic offer we couldn't refuse came along. Two families in Carpinteria, CA a few miles away from Santa Barbara offer part of their properties for us to farm food to give away! We started planting, food began growing, and in no time, Vida Raiz giving fresh organic vegetable to the community.
where does the food go?
It took no time for us to find ways to give our food through different venues. We have teamed up with community heroes like Gilberto Robledo from The Free Methodist Church of Santa Barbara. Gilberto distributes food in the Santa Barbara community to those in need. Also Pastor Fernando Morales from the New Life Church of SB. New Life also distributes food to the community. We also have joined forces with organizations like The Ridley Tree Cancer Center in Santa Barbara who has been so kind to let us bring boxes of freshly harvested vegetables to give away to those who walk through their doors. We also give veggies to the local shelter and individual families in the area.
Talitha with Cucumbers & Heirloom Tomatoes donated to the Cancer Center.
Gilberto delivers food every other Wednesday so we share from our harvest so he can deliver fresh veggies too.
Farming disciples
One thing became clear to us during our time in Costa Rica during our farming project: we must focus on "Farming Disciples"! It isn't a program (yet) but merely an excuse to make great friends while having fun farming food for the community. We take the opportunity to learn veggie gardening, build relationships, explore our spiritual life, practice community outreach together. View our #farmingdisciples pictures.
Nothing like building a Scarecrow with friends
Our right hand man Martin working on Zucchinis.
#farmingdisciples is the future of our project. In this future Farming Disciples will encourage, instruct, local community members to pass on Shalom thru Veggies!
““Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can.” ”