News, Workshops and Upcoming Events
SD Roots founder nominated as Cox Conserves Hero
Winning proceeds will support Wild Willow Educational Programs
OPEN HOUSE/POTLUCK: Saturday, July 19
FARM SCHOOL Introduction to Beekeeping
FARM SCHOOL Holistic Summer Orchard Care
FARMSHARE CSA Now enrolling members
VOLUNTEERING: Every Saturday
VOLUNTEER WEEK: Aug. 20 - 26
FARMRAISING EVENT WWF 5K and Chili-Brewfest FARMRAISING EVENT Chef's Dinner @ Wild Willow Farm (stay tuned)
Please Vote: Cox Conserves Hero Volunteer of the Year
Please Vote Mel Lions as San Diego County
Cox Conserves Hero Volunteer of the Year
100% of proceeds will support
Wild Willow Farm & Education Center
Mel is founder and volunteer director of San Diego Roots Sustainable Food Project and Wild Willow Farm & Education Center. He has been selected as one of three finalists in the 2014 Cox Conserves Hero contest.
Created in partnership with The Trust for Public Land, the program recognizes local environmental volunteers and donates money to local nonprofits on their behalf. The winner is the nominee who receives the most online votes.
What we'll do with our winnings:
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Install a second classroom in the field so we can offer more activities at the farm
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Install a walk-in cooler so we can keep our produce fresher
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Build a field tool shed
Voting takes place between July 9 and August 6.
Why Mel Deserves Your Vote: For the past 13+ years, Mel's ample energy and vision have been devoted toward building an activated network of community members working together to encourage the growth and consumption of regional food. By eating locally, not only do you get fresher, better-tasting and more-nutritious food, but you also help support family farms and encourage a vibrant local economy. Mel encourages everyone to explore the bountiful agricultural and gardening opportunities in San Diego, learn how to grow food, become an informed participant in our local food system, and to encourage others to do the same. He volunteers full time for this cause.
Community Event: Open House-Potluck
Saturday, August 16
Volunteering, Free Yoga, Native Plant Tour, Farm Tour,
Potluck, Wood-fired Pizza, Music, Bonfire and more!
@ Wild Willow Farm
click here for a map (we recommend you use our map)
Free!
(donations in support of our programs are appreciated)
Check out photos from May's potluck,
taken by our friend Gregory Berg!
Schedule for the Day
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11am to 4pm: Volunteer on the farm
Learn while doing. -
4pm: Led by Niina Lobbestael in the barn.
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4 to 7pm: Purchase freshly harvested veggies.
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4 to 7pm: Native plants, veggie starts and succulents for your garden
(by donation to support our educational programs) -
5pm: Farm Tour
Led by Wild Willow staff and students. See what we do, and learn why and how we do it.
Know your farmer, know your farm, know your food. -
5pm: Native Plant Botanical Tour
Learn about native plants at WWF and the TJ River Park led by botanist Lisa Ordonez. -
6:30pm POTLUCK
with farm-made, organic sourdough wood-fired pizza (donations requested).
Please bring something yummy to share! -
Dusk -- BYODrum(s)
Our farm is all about community, so what better way to say that than by hosting a monthly community gathering? On third Saturdays each month from March through November, we host volunteer opportunities, tours, a grand potluck meal, and bonfire.
Please Bring
Something yummy to share (extra points for something homemade using organic, locally grown ingredients). Please label your dish and ingredients (share your recipes!).
Your own plate, cup and eating utensils help us keep this a zero-waste event.
Please pack out your recylables and trash.
Jacket and warm clothing. It gets surprisingly cold here at night.
We welcome everyone, but please leave your pets at home.
About our potlucks: volunteering, free mini-workshops, farm tour, potluck, bonfire, drumming. Farming is all about food. And food is best when shared with community. At our potlucks Wild Willow gives thanks to our amazing community of students, volunteers, educators, fans and eaters of every stripe. Familiar faces and new smiles are always welcome to these joyous gatherings that include educational workshops, volunteer activities, farm tour, potluck dinner, and drum circle around our cob firepit. See photos from our May 2014 potluck taken by Gregory Berg.
2014 OPEN-HOUSE/POTLUCKS: September 20, October 18, November 15
Wild Willow School for Sustainable Farming
LEARN FARMING at our next Farming 101 session:
Basics of Small-scale Sustainable Farming
Classes begin Wednesday, September 3
Last day of classes is Thursday, November 20
Applications now being accepted.
Enrollment begins August 4.
CLASSES Wednesday evenings in San Diego
Select the Lab and Practicum to fit your schedule!
FIELD LABS at Wild Willow Farm
Thursday or Saturday
FARM PRACTICA at Wild Willow Farm
choice of Mon., Tue., Wed., Fri. or Sat.
Click here for more information
Wild Willow Farm's Sustainable Farming 101 course offers students an introduction to techniques and strategies for small farming or agricultural advocacy, or to simply grow more of their own food.
The course consists of lectures, field labs and farm practicum work where students learn what it takes to work a small organic farm. Students take part in classroom lectures and projects, and work alongside farm staff to practice material covered in class.
Farm School: Farming Course
Introduction to Beekeeping
Thursdays, August 14, 21 and 28
9am to 3pm
Cost: $120 + $25 Registration Fee ($145 total)
Registration fee provides you with a basic hive tool and required textbook Beekeeping for Dummies by Howland Blackiston (a great book and not a reflection of what we think about you).
@ Wild Willow Farm & Education Center
click here for a map (we recommend you use our map)
Instructor: Paul Maschka
This course is open to all levels of students.
Click here for more information or to enroll.
WHATS ALL THE BUZZ ABOUT WITH BEES? Please join us at Wild Willow for a fun an informative course about keeping bees and harvesting honey. If you have ever dreamt of getting to know honeybees a little better this is your chance. Get some hands-on experience with our resident bees and beekeeper.
We'll discuss honeybee society, types of hives, hive parts, hive tools used, and beehive etiquette (do's and don'ts). We will harvest and process honey, and if the opportunity comes up, will rescue a hive.
Build a Top Bar Hive: on the last day of class we will build top bar bee hives. If you wish to have one made during this class to take home, additional materials fees will apply.
This course will be focused on natural beekeeping methods.
Click here for more information or to enroll.
Farm School: Farming Course
Holistic Summertime Orchard Care
taught by Paul Maschka
Wednesdays and Saturdays, August 13 - 30
Classes on Wednesdays, 9am to 3pm at Wild Willow Farm
Field Trips to local orchards on Saturdays, 9am to 2pm
$160 + $70 registration fee ($230 total)
Registration fee provides you with hand pruners plus required textbook The Holistic Orchard by Michael Phillips
This course is open to all levels of students.
This course introduces students to fruit tree selection, planting and care for small-scale orchards or home gardens. The course includes content about desirable varieties, hands-on pruning and training methods and details on pest management. The emphasis is on organic production methods. This course is intended for students interested in organic agricultural production, edible landscaping, agroecological education and sustainable plant husbandry.
Click here for more information or to enroll.
The goal is to teach how to grow and maintain the myriad fruit-bearing trees, shrubs, vines and other countless plants that thrive in the Southwestern US. With the almost-tropical climate San Diego is famous for, local orchardists have tested the boundaries of hard-to-grow fruiting plants from around the globe. The result of decades-long dedication to the craft has been fruitful indeed. Planting a variety of fruit trees and berries and maintenance of established orchards will be just a few of the many hands-on learning activities the class will focus on.
We will also cover in great detail orchard design and installation. The theory of urban food forests will be discussed.
Organic production methods will be emphasized.
Click here for more information or to enroll.
Join the Wild Willow Farmshare CSA
We invite you to join us as we plant seeds for a healthy and delicious shared future.
Now enrolling for Full and Half Shares
Pickups in Imperial Beach, Chula Vista,
Mission Hills and Talmadge
Click here for more info or to join.
You are invited to become a Wild Willow Farm Shareholder -- our version of a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). Each weekly or bi-weekly Share includes a seasonal selection of farm-fresh vegetables with occasional fruits, cut flowers, and herbs -- the equivalent of about one grocery bag full of just-harvested produce. Contents of your Share will vary based on seasons and production cycles, but we aim for consistent volume.
every week for 12 weeks = $240
every other week for 12 weeks = $120
Both Full and Half Shares are $20/each/week, and are the same size. You may join any time shares are available.
Pickup Locations: Imperial Beach, Mission Hills, Chula Vista, Talmadge
Pickups are all on Wednesday afternoons/evenings.
Click here for more info or to join.
New Drop sites sought!
You can apply to become a FarmShare drop site with five or more weekly subscriptions (locations south of Interstate 8 and west of Interstate 15 preferred). To find out more, contact Dorothea at
Volunteer at Wild Willow Farm
Open Volunteering at Wild Willow Farm
every Saturday, 11am to 4pm (rain cancels)
No experience necessary. No reservations required.
Come to the farm and participate in your food system as we grow Wild Willow Farm. Often the best way to learn is by doing, and you'll get a taste of the myriad things a farmer does while preparing and growing San Diego seasonal plantings of vegetables, greens, medicinal and culinary herbs and cover crops.
On-farm chores vary widely week to week and depend entirely on what's happening at the farm that day. Usual activities include composting (hands-on learning every week), watering, bed prep, weeding, mulching, animal care, planting and tending a huge range of plants and more.
No reservations are required. We've got the gloves, tools and tasks, just come prepared for sunshine and dirt (sun hat, appropriate clothing, sturdy closed-toe shoes) and please bring a lunch. We have plenty of drinking water, but having your own water bottle makes it easier for you.
Children: You may bring kids of any age you feel suitable to be around a farm, including contact with dirt, bugs, thistles and burrs, farm animals, tools, and nature. Rest assured that we do not use any harmful chemicals on the property. Children must remain under your direct supervision or awareness at all times; we'll do our best to find appropriate work for your family. Please no unacompanied children unless by prior arrangement, such as for school service hours. Wild Willow Farm does not offer childcare services and the farm is not a playground.
We welcome people of all ages and abilities, but please leave your pets at home.
Volunteer Week
August 20 - 26
Volunteer for chance to win tickets to see Jack Johnson!
For every three contiguous hours given during Volunteer Week, volunteers will receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win a pair of tickets to Jack Johnson's La Lolla concert on Aug. 30.
Donated by: All at Once
As nonprofit partners with San Diego Roots, the Johson Ohana Foundation will be donating up to $3000 in support of the educational programs at Wild Willow Farm & Education Center.
Wild Willow Farm 5K & Vegetarian Chili Brewfest
Because vegetarians deserve delicious chili too!
FOOD BEER MUSIC NATURE FARM FUN
at Wild Willow Farm & Education Center
FARM-raiser for Wild Willow Farm
Click here for more info
See photos from the 2012 run.
The smell of chili wafts through the air. A craft brew is waiting to wash it down. You are wandering the grounds of Wild Willow Farm to the sounds of chickens and goats on a clear September day…
Our third-annual harvest season celebration features a vegetarian/vegan chili cook-off and beer tasting from some of our region's finest craft breweries, plus a family-friendly 5K trail run/walk in the scenic Tijuana River Park, on the Park's newly improved trails.
© San Diego Roots Sustainable Food Project
a California 501(c)3 non-profit educational organization
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