Sand n Straw Foundation
Connecting People With Their Food
Every child deserves the opportunity to harvest a tomato, gather eggs, plant a fruit tree, cook from the garden, and discover where food comes from.
Through scholarships and farm-based education, Sand n Straw Foundation helps make these experiences possible for children, families, and our community.
Growing Hope Through Food, Farming & Education
At Sand n Straw Foundation, we believe food is more than something we eat. It is something we can grow, understand, prepare, share, and appreciate.
Through gardening, cooking, regenerative farming, science, animals, and outdoor learning, we help children and families connect with their food from seed to harvest.
When people understand where their food comes from, they begin to see the world differently.
Growing a Lasting Impact
What began as one family's dream has grown into a place where children, families, and our community come together to learn, grow, and reconnect with their food.
Since 2018, together we have:
Provided scholarship support to 91 families, making farm-based education accessible to more children.
Inspired more than 1,500 children through hands-on learning at Young Pioneers.
Stewarded a six-acre regenerative educational farm where food, farming, and nature become the classroom.
Planted and cared for hundreds of fruit trees, gardens, and learning spaces that will educate and nourish future generations.
Built a growing community of families, educators and partners who believe children should know where their food comes from.
Created a place where curiosity grows, confidence flourishes, and lifelong connections to food and farming begin.
One Mission. Three Ways We Serve.
Sand n Straw Foundation is the charitable heart of the Sand n Straw family of organizations. Together with Sand n Straw Community Farm and Young Pioneers, we create hands-on opportunities for children and families to connect with their food, the land, and the people who grow it.
Sand n Straw Community Farm
A six-acre regenerative farm where food is grown, gardens flourish, and people experience the work behind what nourishes them.
Visit the Farm → sandnstraw.com
Young Pioneers
Our outdoor enrichment program where children explore gardening, cooking, farming, animals, science, nature, and life skills through hands-on experiences.
Explore Young Pioneers → youngpioneers.net
Sand n Straw Foundation
A nonprofit that provides scholarships and expands access to farm-based education so more children and families can understand where their food comes from.
Together, these three organizations help people connect with their food, the land, and the life skills that grow from both.
The Moment Everything Changed
During the 2020 shutdown, a young boy visited the farm with his family. When he found out the animals were closed that day, his face just fell.
It was a small moment, and we've never forgotten it.
Kids needed more than a place to buy fresh food. They needed somewhere to wonder, explore, and feel connected to something real.
That day shaped what this Foundation became. Every scholarship, every garden lesson, every farm afternoon we fund is another shot at that same feeling for another kid.
Our Mission
We fund scholarships, support farm-based learning, and care for the growing spaces where this kind of education happens, so more children and families can understand the work, beauty, and responsibility behind the food that feeds them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sand n' Straw Foundation?
Sand n' Straw Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Vista, California. We provide farm-based education, outdoor learning scholarships, and community harvest support on a six-acre regenerative farm. We are the charitable heart of the Sand n' Straw family of organizations, which includes Sand n' Straw Community Farm and Young Pioneers.
Who does Sand n' Straw Foundation serve?
We primarily serve children ages 3 to 10 and their families in North San Diego County, with a particular focus on households facing financial barriers to accessing farm-based education and outdoor learning experiences.
How do I donate to Sand n' Straw Foundation?
You can donate online . Gifts can be made as a one-time or monthly donation and can be designated toward the Young Pioneers Scholarship Fund, the Community Harvest Fund, or the Farm Education and Stewardship Fund. Sand n' Straw Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. EIN 83-0645068. All donations are tax-deductible.
How do I find out more about Young Pioneers or apply for a scholarship?
Visit youngpioneers.net to learn more about the program. To inquire about scholarship availability contact us at april@sandnstraw.com or (760) 575-4758.
How do I visit the farm?
Sand n' Straw Community Farm is located at 629 Mar Vista Drive, Vista, CA 92081. Visit sandnstraw.com for current farm stand hours, events, and how to book a tour.
Your Gift Opens the Gate
A donation to Sand n' Straw Foundation isn't just a transaction. It's a kid harvesting from the garden, cooking with what's in season, caring for animals, and starting to piece together where food actually comes from.
Your gift grows curiosity, confidence, and a real connection to the land.
Growing food. Growing curiosity. Growing community.