The Almanac
Persephone Days
Jessica was going to write this post. She recently left for Oaxaca on a month-long Spanish immersion adventure. And she got caught up with wrapping things up before she left. So I’ll have a go. Though I hope she’ll still share her thoughts on the topic some day....
Meet Lexi, the New Farmer at Terra Cultura
We are thrilled to welcome a new member to the Terra Cultura team: Meet Lexi Sim! Originally from Maryland, Lexi moved to California to study Agroecology. She received her degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she enjoyed taking courses...
A Time of Transition and Integration
Hello Terra Cultura Family! We hope this finds you safe and well as we cautiously emerge from a very difficult period. Out of the grief, anxiety, and sometimes rage, we are heartened now to be finding reasons for celebration and hope. Mostly, this transitional time...
Central Coast Mutual Aid Network Participates in Farmworker Caravan
Volunteers collected food and supplies for local farmworkers at a Farmworker Caravan in October On a sunny Saturday morning in October, members of the Central Coast Mutual Aid Network gathered in front of the Old Mission in San Juan Bautista. Masked, and distanced, we...
Virtual Farm Tour with Terra Cultura
Join us on a virtual walking tour of Terra Cultura! We're thrilled to show you everything we've been up to this year, and share all of the exciting projects and programs we have planned for the year ahead!
Virtual Skillshare – Foraging in Your Own Backyard!
Let's Go Foraging! Local forager Andy Hsia-Coron takes us on a virtual tour of the Watsonville Slough, taking a close look at medicinal and edible plants and herbs that we can find growing in our local area. Special thanks to Andy and Michael for sharing your...
Hope as we Shelter from the Storm…
Hello Dear Friends. We hope you are surrounded with support as you weather this storm. If there is anything we at Terra Cultura can do to help you feel more supported, I hope you will reach out. We know this is a very challenging time for many of you, and we are here...
Report from EcoFarm Conference
It's been about a month since the Terra Cultura staff ventured to Asilomar Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove for the annual EcoFarm Conference. The Conference is put on by The Ecological Farming Association -- a non-profit educational organization whose mission is...
Midwinter Update, With Love…
Well it's been a winter of reflection on where we've been and where we're going, and what we want from a future we are building together. With the whiff of spring on the breeze, our planning is transitioning to affectionate labor. Soon we'll cut down our cover crop...
Happy New Year from Terra Cultura!
Terra Cultura grew by leaps and bounds in 2019. The farm changed from a dream to a beautiful reality, with the planting of our first crops, and the expansion of our pollinator garden, and food forest. Our educational programs changed from small pilots into fully...
Thanks for “Raising the Barn” With Us!
Hello Dear Friends of Terra Cultura! We want to thank those of you who came to our Barnraiser event on October 13th. By day, you came to Terra Cultura to get your hands dirty with us, and to see all we've accomplished in the past year. By night, you feasted and...
PG&E’s Inability to Adapt to our New Climate Puts the Onus on Us
The question is not whether PG&E is to blame for the largest and most deadly wildfires of our time. We have no choice but to accept that and move onto the more productive question: what can we, in our local communities, be doing to create more resilient power solutions for ourselves in the face of new and evolving climate conditions?
Barnraiser Day is Oct 12 and You’re Invited!
Hi Friends! The big day is coming up and we wanted to make sure you had the skinny. October 12th is Barnraiser Day—and there are two free events that day: one in the afternoon (at Terra Cultura) and one in the evening (at the Aromas Grange). You are invited to either,...
A Terra Cultura Midyear Review
Hello friends. It’s been a minute since you've heard from us. So we figured it was time for a midyear update. Where we are now. It’s an exciting time here, as we gear up for a new phase of expanded programming. You may notice updates to our programs page, including...
Busy as Bees at Terra Cultura!
Hello to our friends! Hello hello! Are you taking care of yourself in the midst of everything you're juggling? We're trying... Of course, it wouldn't be springtime on the farm if we weren't busier than worker bees. We have so much going on, we figured it was time for...
A Rumination on the Land from a Board Member Living Far Away, on the Progress of the First Year
The first time I saw Terra Cultura, it was June of 2018. From the main drag, we pulled onto a road lined in rosemary, lavender, and ferns. Travis met us at the bottom of the steep, holey drive and wind-milled his arms in encouragement as our rental car fought its way...
Meet Our New Team Member!
Hi everyone! I’m Tessa, Terra Cultura’s new intern here in beautiful Aromas! I am extremely excited for this opportunity to join this amazing team on this powerful mission. A little about me: I am originally from Buffalo, NY but have been living in Santa Cruz, CA...
Eureka Myrica! And Other Nitrogen Fixers
While our checklog beds are all cozy for the winter with their cover crop, compost, and mulch keeping them warm, wet, and nourished, we've been focussing on some other planting. Even though it's winter, we're giving our pollinator garden, silvopasture, and food forest...
It’s Just The Beginning
Hello friends, and warmest wishes for the new year! It's been quite a year for Terra Cultura. It's hard to believe how far we've come in such a short time. I'm not sure we'd believe it ourselves if it weren't for this kind of crazy video evidence. The top footage is...
Giving Thanks and Looking Forward
Hi friends! We're wishing you all a fruitful season of giving and gratitude. There’s a palpable shift here at Terra Cultura. There’s a chill in the air, and even the promise of rains next week. But more than that, after nearly 8 months on the land, we’re entering a...
Grow Together: Looking Ahead to a Better Future
Thank you for making our Open House event a success! We're thrilled to see our community grow! Last Saturday, October 13th, we were honored to host about 70 community members for our Open House event. Together we feasted, enjoyed performances by local musicians,...