Greetings!
Today some of our California agritourism community members are struggling to begin recovery from the fierce fires that swept through Northern California in the past week. Some lost homes, barns, farms, shops, acres of crops and livelihoods. Luckily few lives were lost, but recovery for many will be slow.
Here are some of the communities affected, and ways for you to offer sorely needed help:
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The Pleasants Valley Agriculture Association in Vacaville is an association of about 20 small-scale farmers, many who welcome visitors and sell directly to the public. People in Pleasant Valley California were hit with a huge wildfire causing fields to go up and flames and houses/barns are now gone due to the fires. They need help on rebuilding and getting their homes back. Volunteers for cleanup and recovery efforts are also encouraged to sign up to help soon. Visit the PVAA website for details about the farms' losses and how to donate or volunteer.
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The historic farm house at Pie Ranch in Pescadero burned down completely. The farmhouse that was destroyed, also known as the Steele Family Home, was used primarily for housing — as a post on the Pie Ranch website notes, “in addition to the current team members who have lost their home, the old house has sheltered countless other staff members, emerging farmers, been the site of youth meetings and camp outs and hosted weddings, birthdays and other meaningful events. We mourn with all of you who have passed through this space over the last 15 years.” The farm is currently soliciting donations both to assist its staff as well as to pay for what will likely be a long rebuilding process.
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Swanton Berry Farm U-Pick has been spared the fire and is safe, but the farmers encourage donations to support farm workers and other local farmers. For those looking to help, Swanton notes that its workers will be the beneficiaries of a GoFundMe campaign, started by a former employee — funds that will mostly go directly into the hands of farm employees “to compensate for lost wages & possibly to re-locate if the need arises,” according to a post on Swanton’s Instagram account.
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Off The Grid, the community of local food trucks known for events at Fort Mason in San Francisco, and elsewhere, has launched a NorCal Fire Fund to help provide meals for those displaced in the fires. You can see their fire relief page here, which includes a list of ways to help, and donations can be made here.
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The United Farm Workers Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to advocating for immigrant farmworkers across the U.S., and in recent days, they’ve turned their eye to the wildfires in California. Click here to donate to efforts to ensure farmworker safety, including access to personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as to offer financial assistance to the displaced. You can also text “Essencial” to 877-877 for more information on how to help.
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To support Sonoma County farm workers who continue to work through the smoke and pandemic, please consider giving to UndocuFund, a Sonoma County nonprofit that supports undocumented individuals.
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Responding to wildfires across the state, Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) re-launched a fund to support smaller-scale farms impacted by this latest disaster. For the launch of this latest round of funds, the TomKat Ranch Educational Foundation has pledged a major donation, with a goal to ensure a more just and equitable recovery. For more information about the fund, click here.
Thanks again for all you're doing.
Please stay in touch; share your stories or news for the next newsletter, coming soon!
Sincerely,
Penny Leff
Agritourism Coordinator
UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program
