Our Programs
Sand n' Straw Foundation runs three interconnected programs at our six-acre regenerative farm in Vista, California. Each one is funded in part by donor and grant support, and each one is open to the community we serve seeking connection to the land.
Farm & Regenerative Agriculture
Sand n' Straw Foundation operates a working six-acre regenerative farm without pesticides or chemicals of any kind. We believe in working with nature rather than against it, and allow natural systems to guide everything from soil health to pest management.
The farm is home to fruit trees, vegetable gardens, animals, ponds, composting systems, and seasonal growing areas — all tended daily and shared generously with the surrounding community. It is the living foundation beneath every program we run.
Through farm tours, garden education, fruit tree workshops, seasonal harvest opportunities, and hands-on experiences, we invite people of all ages to discover how a working farm teaches lessons that last a lifetime. Our goal is not only to grow food, but to use this land as a place of learning, stewardship, and genuine community connection.
Young Pioneers Scholarship Program
Young Pioneers is a private outdoor enrichment program for children ages 3 to 10, operating on the farm in all seasons. Children learn through hands-on experiences in gardening, nature study, animal care, kitchen skills, homesteading, science, music, and outdoor play. Every session happens outside on the farm, because we believe the natural world is the best classroom there is.
The program serves children from families across North San Diego County, with particular focus on households who would otherwise be unable to access a program of this kind due to financial need. Scholarship recipients are selected based on family circumstance and program fit.
Our scholarship program has grown every year since we began:
2021–22 — 10 families supported
2022–23 — 14 families supported
2023–24 — 16 families supported
2024–25 — 25 families supported
2025–26 — 26 families currently receiving financial assistance
What scholarship funding covers: A gift of $250 funds one full month of Young Pioneers for one child. Scholarship gifts cover tuition in part or in full, depending on family need, for semester-long program participation.
To inquire about scholarship availability, contact us. To fund a scholarship, donate here.
Community Harvest Fund
The Community Harvest Fund exists to make the farm accessible to more people — through subsidized farm shares, free or reduced-cost workshops, community farm tours, garden education, and seasonal farm experiences.
We already have the farm, the programs, and the teachers in place. What this fund does is remove the cost barrier that keeps some families and individuals from participating. Donor and grant support allows us to extend what we already do to people who could not otherwise afford it.
This fund is how we say yes more often: yes to a family who needs a farm share, yes to a child who needs time outside, yes to a group that has never seen a working farm, and yes to using what we have been given to serve others well.
Support the Community Harvest Fund →
For Funders & Grant Partners
If you are a foundation, corporate giving program, or individual donor evaluating Sand n' Straw Foundation for a grant or major gift, we welcome the conversation. We can provide program data, scholarship metrics, farm documentation, our most recent Form 990, and a formal letter of inquiry on request.
Past Projects
Couple Berry Farms
In 2018, we were able to save an almost one hundred year old family farm in Vista, California with your help! The Farm was able to re-open the Farm to the community in July of 2019. They now have a full Farm Stand on Wednesdays and Saturdays, a thriving CSA program, events such as Cooking Classes, Farm to Table Dinners, Farm Tours, a Children’s outdoor education program and so much more.
Thank you for helping save Couple Berry Farms!
Chicken Incubator Project For Ugandan Family
Margaret launched a small-scale chicken project in Uganda. Despite facing immense challenges—having lost her husband to AIDS years ago and receiving no support through a social security system—she has continued to provide not just for her own children, but also for many orphans. Today, she is supporting 10 children and grandchildren on her own.
Thanks to your generosity and encouragement, we were able to help Margaret successfully build an incubator for her baby chicks! This marks a significant step toward creating a sustainable and independent livelihood for her. It’s been amazing to witness the progress, and we are thrilled about the hope and stability this project is bringing to her life and to the children she cares for.
Thank you for your support!