The Almanac
Giving Tuesday Was A Success –Thanks To You!
[cmsms_row][cmsms_column data_width="1/1"][cmsms_text] Thank you so much for your generous donations during our Giving Tuesday fundraiser! It was inspiring to see the community come together to host and share fundraisers with their social media networks. In just one...
A Heartfelt Thanks, from Terra Cultura
[cmsms_row][cmsms_column data_width="1/1"][cmsms_image align="center" animation_delay="0"]1438|https://terracultura.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/TerraTahoeFullBoard-1024x679.jpg|large[/cmsms_image][cmsms_text] We've come to the end of our first year at Terra...
All Aboard
We're nearing the end of our first official year as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Our board of super heroes will be convening next month to approve the 2018 budget and the plans for the year. As we prepare for that, we asked a few of our board members why they signed on to...
Here We Are.
It's an interesting time here at Terra Cultura. We're on the cusp of being able to share some very exciting news, but (knock on wood) we don't want to count our chickens before they're hatched. (Why do people say 'knock on wood' anyway? It apparently dates back to...
A Spooky Site Visit…
“I think it’s this turn, up ahead,” Rachel said, staring deep into google maps. Travis pulled off the main road onto a dusty dirt path, and Joey, their Honda, bucked over the uneven road. The trees were thick along the road, old pines twisting into broad canopies, and...
Terra Cultura On The Radio!
We were really excited to be interviewed yesterday on Robin Carpenter's Farm and Foodshed Report on KWMR, which is based in Point Reyes Station, Ca. Robin clearly understands Terra Cultura's interdisciplinary vision, and asked wonderful and thoughtful questions. The...
Musicians, Artists, Community & Collaborations
Well friends, it was wonderful to see some of you in Oakland last week at our Benefit Concert. A huge thank you to those of you who came out! Having people like you in our community affirms everything we've been working to create, so thank you for your friendship and...
See You In Oakland!
We're packing up to head to Oakland, CA for the Terra Cultura Presents: Plant the Seed Benefit Concert this Thursday! And yeah, we're pretty excited about it. People are coming from all over the area and beyond to help make it a magical night—from Davis, Sacramento,...
Harvest Feasts, And Sharing The Bounty
Fall is a good time for reflection, for reevaluating what's important and where to focus our energies. As the seasons transition, thoughts bend towards harvests and feasts, for those fortunate to have bounty to share. But we also know that these are difficult times,...
Programs In Progress! Eco-Art Projects, Professional Development, and More. . .
Harvest time is in full swing, and so is Terra Cultura's residency at the Barn 8 art space at Leichtag Commons! We've been busy taking every opportunity to design and implement programming, testing out our hands-on, eco-arts curriculum ideas within a supportive and...
Announcing a Terra Cultura Benefit Concert!
You're Invited! A Terra Cultura Benefit Concert Featuring The Gold Souls, SLUGish Ensemble and Hannah Mayree Thursday, October 5th at The Uptown Nightclub in Oakland, CA Doors at 8:00pm Tickets: $25 Suggested Donation Tickets and Info here Join us on Thursday...
Family Day With Terra Cultura at Coastal Roots Farm
Come say hello to Terra Cultura this coming Sunday, September 10, from 10am to noon, at Coastal Roots Farm's Family Day! Stop by our table and join us for some fun, harvest-themed arts & crafts for all ages. Our last art project at Coastal Roots Farm was so much...
Agroecology and You
When we talk about our agricultural and environmental stewardship education programs, we use the term agroecology. It may not be a household word, but we chose it, specifically, for its broad agricultural, ecological and social implications. Miguel Altieri of UC...
Paint and Plant
Over 300 participants joined us at our Paint and Plant event, at Coastal Roots’ Farm and Hangout Season Finale last Thursday afternoon. Children and adults of all ages sat under the shade of our tent, and painted terra-cotta pots, planted wildflower seeds inside, and learned about the importance of bees and other pollinators to our food and to our planet.
Considering Forms of Capital
Jessica and I had a Great Aunt, Mollie, who lived to be 102. When I asked her what had been the biggest change she’d witnessed in her lifetime, she answered: the breakdown of social ties. When she was growing up in the 30s, her family shared a St. Louis townhouse with...
Community Building for Political Action
Before Rachel, Travis and I started Terra Cultura, I spent several years bouncing back and forth between farming and community organizing. During that time, I was lucky enough to be an organizer for a number of successful political campaigns. The best campaigns, for...
Putting the Culture Back Into Agriculture
Now that it’s official, we have an exciting announcement. We have been offered a residency at Leichtag Foundation’s Barn 8 art space, overlooking the scenic Coastal Roots Farm. While we continue to search for a site of our very own, Barn 8 will serve as our temporary...
Agricultural Shifts
I was in college when I decided I wanted to learn to farm. Growing up in the suburbs of San Diego, I had never thought much about where my food came from. I didn’t have much opportunity to follow the journey of my food any further back than the grocery store shelves. But once I moved away, I became increasingly intrigued by the idea of being a farmer. Maybe it was the way the whole community came out for the farmers market every week that got me, or the realization that I was much happier spending my days outside, or the growing craving to understand the science of making plants the happiest, or all the beneficial ways one could impact the environment and also produce food. Whatever the combination of reasons, I couldn’t stop dreaming about all the ways I could learn to farm. This early dreaming shifted the course of my life.
Lessons from the Grapevine
When Jessica and I returned from our world travels in late 2011, we stayed for a short while in San Diego, with Jessica’s parents, while we regrouped and planned our next move. During our stay, we talked a lot about some of the different agricultural and horticultural practices we experienced at the various farms and homesteads where we worked and lived.
Terra Cultura Apparel Now Available!
[cmsms_row][cmsms_column data_width="1/1"][cmsms_text]We've got some exciting news that we couldn't wait to share with you! We've been field testing some shirt designs for a couple months now, so you've likely seen us around town in our spiffy Terra Cultura tees. Now...
The Land Search Continues…
Hello and welcome back to the Almanac! We've had some developments in the hunt for land that we'd love to share. We recently met with a realtor to view four sites in Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties. We eliminated the first two pretty quickly. One required driving...