Community Soil Foundation is a non-profit organization that raises awareness about practices and methods of regenerative farming and gardening including the benefits to individual, communal, and ecological health. Our mission is to cultivate the wellness of Sonoma County communities by offering land-based education, creating access to organic produce, and regenerating habitat and natural resources.
Our projects are unique in that we optimize overall functionality of land by integrating as many community benefits as possible such as stacking a blend of school gardens and community gardens on underutilized public park space. Since 2015, we have been teaching environmental stewardship to youth and adults through sustainable, organic gardening practices and volunteer-driven fieldwork. We also provide an outdoor gathering space for community members to grow local produce and connect with each other. In addition, we create new programs in direct response to the evolving needs of our community. As a result of the 2017 wildfires, our Healthy Habitats program was launched to directly protect public health and Mark West Creek through landowner education, prevention of watershed contamination, and long-term habitat restoration.
Our premiere site is located on six acres of garden and oak woodland at the Larkfield Community Garden & Learning Center at Maddux Ranch Regional Park. Over 3,000 annual pounds of produce is grown and donated to local families, food banks, and other organizations. During the school year, we serve 350 Mark West Unified School District students plus their teachers and families through our garden-based curriculum tied to common core standards. We partner with other local groups and agencies to further protect soil, water and public health plus create a larger base of environmental stewards. Major support comes from Sonoma Clean Power, Sutter Health, Sonoma County Regional Parks, Sonoma County Department of Health Services, Community Foundation, and dozens of private contributions and in-kind donations.