Supporting new and beginning farmers is a core value of Foodshed and since 2020 we have invested heavily in this effort. Our staff has provided more than 1,500 hours of mentorship and business development support, the vast majority to people of color and women, and assisted in the launch of four new "minority-owned" farm businesses.
We are also ahead of the curve when it comes to carbon farming innovation and the implementation of Incentive programs that work for farmers. In this context, we are eager to spearhead projects that bring focused attention to carbon farming in our region.
Farming Resource Hub
Find more information below about:
USDA Partnerships on Climate-Smart Commodities
We are excited to announce we are one of the awardees’ of USDA Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities grant to support the production and marketing of climate-smart commodities via a set of pilot projects.
On September 2023 we launched the Climate Smart Incentive Program a 5 year program that helps farmers move produce into the local marketplace that is grown using regenerative and verified climate-smart production practices.
Our program goals are:
1. Building on-farm resilience using “Climate Smart” agricultural practices
2. Establishing market channels that source local food to vulnerable communities
Farm Incubator Program
Our Incubator Farm Program provides a great entry-level opportunity for those graduates from farmer training and/or beginner and new farmers looking for access to affordable leased land, infrastructure, resources, and one-on-one mentorship to develop their farm operation, production techniques, and business skills.
We love planting seeds and growing new farmers! We strive to provide programs that empower youth, socially disadvantaged individuals, people of color, women., and tribal communities. We aim to build a more diverse and resilient farming community by supporting farmers who often experience significant systemic barriers to starting their agricultural businesses.
Stay tuned for more information about upcoming Programs!
Apprenticeship Program
Foodshed proudly presents this unique opportunity to farm!
Grow produce for Foodshed with our host farm Solidarity farm
20 week program
3 paid part time positions @ $19/hr
Wed-Fri 7am-3:30pm
Priority to BIPOC folxs
Weekly Farm Lessons
This program prioritizes BIPOC folxs but everyone is welcome to apply
This opportunity is for those looking to develop a career in farming so please be conscious of that when applying
Stay tuned for future apprenticeship opportunities!
Tool Lending Library
The Foodshed Tool Lending Library allows our producers to try out new tools before making their own upfront purchase. Much like taking a book out of your local library, farmers can "check out" a tool to trial on their own farms.
This program helps reduce costs for farms that may not be able to purchase certain equipment but still need access to it a few times a year. It also allows farmers to trial a tool to see if it's compatible with their own farm context and worth purchasing.
Some of the tools currently available at the library are:
Compost Dump Trailer (6 yards)
Compost Spreader
Jab Planter for big seeds
Paper Pot Transplanter
The Precision Vacuum Seeder
Carbon Sink Incentive Pilot 2022
Through Foodshed, we’ve uncovered an urgent need to measure the impact of carbon farming for the sake of our own stewardship as well as to communicate effectively with local policymakers. These parallel needs have encouraged us to develop data collection and assessment tools that really work for farmers. We used these tools to gather baseline data and are ready to scale up their use.
Our farmers want to do more carbon farming, but existing carbon farming incentive programs (like Healthy Soils) require a complicated application and reporting process and pay as reimbursement for completed practices. This just doesn’t work for most farmers!
During 2022 with this pilot program, Foodshed incentivized the adoption of carbon farming practices at the point of purchase to 14 farm participants from our network of local farms (67% BIPoC owned, 50% woman-owned). Farmers had the opportunity to choose their Tier of participation and received a higher premium payment for their produce based on their level of engagement in the pilot.
Contact
Interested in growing for us?
Thank you for your interest in becoming a part of Foodshed’s farming network. Please take a few minutes to answer the following questions so we can find out more about your operation.
Partners
We are grateful for our funders, sponsors, and supporters who believe in our vision and help us build a more just Food System in San Diego!
If you are interested in learning more about regenerative practices or carbon sink farming in our region, and want to stay updated on local advocacy or training opportunities, please visit Carbon Sink Farms.
Now is your chance to get involved in creating a local, grassroots plan for food justice. Check out SDFSA’s Food Vision portal and get involved today!
Zero Foodprint Zero Foodprint (ZFP) food businesses and their customers help farmers turn bad carbon into good carbon by adding an optional 1% to charge to their patron’s bill. Learn more about their rationale and the movement they are working to build. Link
Founders & Sponsors
Supporters & Allies
Policy
REGIONAL DECARBONIZATION FRAMEWORK
The integrated Regional Decarbonization Framework (RDF) is a partnership to move the region toward zero-carbon emissions. We encourage you to use the public engagement process before the end of 2022 to advocate for:
Good Food Purchasing Programs that pay a premium for climate-smart, locally-grown foods
A commitment to fund carbon farming pilot projects
Prioritization of carbon farming projects that link to historically underserved communities
A sustainable and sufficient funding stream to bring pilot projects to scale
In times of Climate Change and critical local environmental legislation aiming to take bold climate action that mitigates beyond state targets to net-zero and below by 2035-2045, we are strongly advocating on different front lines for carbon farming as a way to mitigate GHG emissions by increasing soil health, Organic Matter, biodiversity, and carbon storage in our farms.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY - CLIMATE ACTION PLAN
The overall objective of the CAP Update is to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated from activities within the unincorporated county to meet or exceed GHG reduction goals under State laws. Carbon farming could help us achieve CAP and net zero targets!
Help us advocate to the County to:
include adequate funding to incentivize climate-smart agriculture on all local farms
account for the broad co-benefits of carbon farming
follow farmer input when developing monitoring and measurement requirements
CITY OF SAN DIEGO - CLIMATE ACTION PLAN
The City of San Diego’s new CAP establishes a community-wide goal of net zero by 2035, committing San Diego to an accelerated trajectory for greenhouse gas reductions. Unfortunately, there is nothing in the City CAP that addresses agriculture and food production or potential GHG reductions from carbon farming. Help us encourage the City to:
Develop favorable leases for City-owned, agriculturally zoned properties to increase carbon farming on publicly-owned land;
Add food security and climate-smart agriculture to their climate agenda