meet our family

Sand n’ Straw Community Farm is a family-owned regenerative farm in Vista, CA dedicated to growing seasonal, nutrient-dense produce using organic, permaculture, and soil-building practices. Committed to environmental stewardship and community connection, the farm cultivates healthy ecosystems while offering fresh local food, education, and hands-on experiences that reconnect people with the land.

WHAT WE GROW 

Apples • Apricots • Arugula • Avocados • Basil • Beets • Blackberries • Blueberries • Broccoli • Butternut Squash • Cabbage • Cantaloupe • Carrots • Cauliflower • Cherry Tomatoes• Cilantro • Collards • Corn • Cucumbers • Dragon Beans • Dragon Fruit •Eggplant • Eight Ball Squash • Grapefruit • Green Beans • Green Onions • Jalapeño Peppers • Kale • Lemons • Limes • Loquats • Oranges • Oregano • Parsley • Patty Pan Squash • Peaches• Pears • Peas • Persimmons • Plums • Poblano • Peppers • Pomegranates • Pumpkins • Radishes • Raspberries • Serrano Peppers • Shishito Peppers • Spaghetti Squash • Summer Squash • Swiss Chard • Tangelos • Tomatillos • Tomatoes • Turnips • Watermelon • Zucchini

Everything grown on our 6-acres using regenerative and organic practices.

Shop the FARM STAND

We offer our community fresh, organically and regeneratively grown fruits and vegetables straight from our gardens—available year-round. Alongside fresh produce, you’ll also find our small-batch jams, raw honey and bee pollen, loose-leaf teas, coffee beans, sourdough bread and a variety of other household favorites!

Get updates from the farm in our weekly newsletter—what’s ready, what’s in season, and simple ways to use it.

Farm Stand SHOPPing Hours:

Wednesday 1-4pm
Saturday 8-1pm

Join the CSA

Get Weekly Fresh Produce

Support the farm each week with a seasonal Farm Box subscription. Each $35 box includes 10–12 peak-season produce items, grown using organic and regenerative farming practices and harvested fresh every Wednesday and Friday.

Pick up at the Farm Stand on Wednesdays or Saturdays to swap items and browse extra farm goods.

Membership perks include weekly recipes, quarterly farm tours, 10% off workshops & events, and discounted add-ons.

Customize your share with organic corn & soy-free eggs, fresh baked sourdough, cookies, scones, local raw honey, and bee pollen.

What our community is saying

“This is, by far, the best Farm Box I've ever had. My entire family, including two little girls, are excited to pick it up every week and we love the delicious, fresh produce. Sand N' Straw farm is a true community treasure. We always bring out of town guests and they are impressed with this gem of a farm and the quality produce. We look forward to being Farm Box members for a very long time.”
— Ashley B. 

At Sand N Straw, we believe children learn best through hands-on experiences, meaningful work, and connection to nature. Through our Young Pioneers program, children participate in outdoor enrichment experiences designed to foster curiosity, creativity, confidence, and practical life skills through experiential learning on our working regenerative farm.

Our instructional sessions give children opportunities to explore gardening, nature studies, homesteading skills, cooking, science projects, art, and agricultural education through guided, age-appropriate activities. Each session encourages independence, problem-solving, teamwork, and active participation in a collaborative outdoor environment.

We offer weekly semester-style programs during the school year, seasonal summer camps, farm workshops, tours, community events, and organic farm boxes filled with fresh seasonal produce grown right here on the farm.

Our Fall-Spring Semesters are for ages 3-9 years old, potty trained and able to attend a program without parent assistance. Choose your schedule of Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday from 8:30-11:30 with the option of an additional hour. Pricing can be found on our website www.youngpioneers.net. We accept most charter schools enrichment funds.

Summer Semester and Summer Camps are a great way for our non-homeschool families to experience The Farm. Enroll in our 8 week semester (Ages 3-6) OR a 4 Day long camp (Ages 4-10). You can sign up for these here.

the web of life

The Web of Life is our nature-based experiential learning curriculum developed through Young Pioneers at Sand n’ Straw Community Farm in Vista, California.

Rooted in regenerative farming, outdoor education, and hands-on learning, the program encourages curiosity, creativity, problem-solving, and connection to the natural world through gardening, cooking, nature studies, science projects, art, and practical homesteading skills.

Designed for homeschool families, outdoor programs, and farm-based enrichment, The Web of Life combines real-world experiences with interactive learning that helps children build confidence, responsibility, and appreciation for the environment. The curriculum is also available for families to use independently at home.

tours & classes

6 Acre Regenerative Farm Tours

We invite you to join us for an informative and exciting tour of our six-acre farm. Led by Farmer Rich, our most knowledgable farmer, you'll explore the various growing areas, ponds, seasonal creeks, food forest, and more. This tour is an excellent opportunity to learn about regenerative agriculture and permaculture while enjoying the beautiful surroundings of our farm.

During the tour, Farmer Rich will be happy to answer any questions you may have about getting started with growing your own produce or enhancing your current gardening practices. You'll discover how simple it can be to restore nutrient-rich soil in your backyard, and learn some tips and tricks to save you money and grow your own nutrient-dense food.

Be prepared for a rigorous walk, as the farm is terraced, but the experience is well worth it. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to learn from our farmers and explore our beautiful farm.

Tours by reservations only.

Gardening Workshop

Are you dreaming of starting your own garden, but feeling overwhelmed about where to begin? Or have you always relied on buying garden plants and want to explore starting from seed? Look no further than our upcoming workshop, where you can learn everything you need to know about starting a garden from seed.

During the workshop, we'll discuss various soil options, including alternatives to traditional potting soil, and we'll focus on what to do after your garden is planted, from maintenance to harvesting.

Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to dive into the world of gardening and learn how to start your own garden from seed. Join us today!

Fruit Tree Classes

Learn to Plant, Prune, and Care for Fruit Trees with Confidence

This focused workshop dives into the essentials of fruit tree care, with an emphasis on long-term health and productivity.

Participants will learn:

• How to choose the right tree for your space

• Proper planting techniques

• When and how to prune

• Ongoing care through the seasons

You’ll leave with a clearer understanding of how fruit trees grow — and how to support them for years to come.

consults with farmer rich

Home Consults

Farmer Rich would love to talk with you about how to get started growing your own produce or how to enhance what you're already doing. There's a lot that can be done to restore your backyard dirt into nutrient rich soil. In Southern California, its never a wrong time to start your family’s garden. With a few simple tricks, you can save yourself quite a bit of money and grow nutrient dense food from your own backyard. We will meet at your garden on the selected day.

We are glad to accommodate over the phone consulting as well, just let us know!

Farm Consulting

Starting a produce farm is an incredible adventure…

Full of purpose, passion, and possibility!

And when you’re dedicated to organic, regenerative methods—no pesticides, no chemicals, no shortcuts—it takes even more grit, patience, and strategy to make it work.

We’ve been there. We've built our farm from the ground up, all while managing planting schedules, harvests, CSA logistics, marketing, customer service, bookkeeping, and crop planning. We know what it’s like to wear every hat—and feel like there’s never enough time in the day. If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure what to prioritize, you’re not alone. Many farmers hit that wall—whether in the first season or the fifth.

The good news? There is a path forward…We’ve learned what works—both in the field and behind the scenes—and we’re here to help you do the same. With the right systems, support, and mindset, your farm can thrive, and you can reclaim the joy that brought you to this work in the first place.

Farming regeneratively isn’t easy—but you don’t have to figure it all out on your own.

We’re here to help you grow, with confidence.

 Frequently Asked Questions