Because Special Education benefits in California end when a child turns 22 years old, Heidi Cartan was searching for a replacement program that would suit the needs of her young adult son, Noah. Nothing she found was quite right, until she visited the L’Arche Farm and Garden program in Washington State. She knew immediately that this program was perfect. L’Arche Farm & Gardens strives “to offer a safe and welcoming environment that provides meaningful farm and garden work to persons with developmental disabilities. The Farm is a collaborative setting in which people with a diversity of gifts and abilities work toward common goals.” Since there was nothing comparable here, Cartan quickly realized that she would need to create a similar farm program herself. She would need to do the demanding and time-consuming work of organizing the program, find funding, locate other families to participate, find and purchase or lease an appropriate site, navigate the minefield of government regulations. The challenges of such a task must have felt overwhelming and at times, impossible.
Cartan is not a person who gives up easily, however. She located nine other families, all with children with disabilities, who wanted to participate. They pooled their resources, incorporated as a 501c non-profit in late 2014, and in August of 2015 closed escrow on a beautiful level 6 3/4 acre organic farm on Golf Club Drive in Santa Cruz. (Former owner Cathy Puccinelli was happy to pass along her family’s land to be safe-guarded and farmed by this group.) The farm was named Costanoa Commons with the mission “to create an organic farm where people with disabilities and others grow healthy food and build community.” Cartan envisions it as a farm where everyone is welcome, a place that creates a partnership with the greater community.
Now in its second year of operation, the farm is abuzz with activity, much of it by community volunteers. Some goals already accomplished include deer fencing a large area, underground installation of irrigation water supply lines by Cartan’s husband Philippe Habib (the farm has historic water rights from Pogonip Creek which runs through the property), erection of the framework for a 20-foot by 108-foot greenhouse that is fully accessible for those with mobility challenges, completion of another accessible area with raised beds (whimsically decorated by students in the Happy Heart Studio summer camp), much non-native plant removal, the building of a chick hatchery, a chicken tractor plus a predator-proof coop (now inhabited by egg-laying hens), obtaining a free farm stand for future sales, and the creation of a number of 100-foot beds for vegetable and flower production, including the preparation and planting of three 100-foot strawberry beds, and a large area planted to raspberries.
That so much could be accomplished in such a short time is a tribute to the organizational skills of Cartan and her enthusiastic Board of Directors, plus the hard work of many groups and community members who have contributed cash, materials and labor. Peter Shaw’s Indoor Production Class in the horticulture department at Cabrillo College has helped start an aquaponics program in the big greenhouse; it and other supplies were donated by a nursery in Napa County. Composting workshops have been led by Otis Johnson. Janice Kuch, Master Gardener trainee, is planting hedgerows. Diane Mahan has led workshops on planting and care of fruit trees, and has planted a number of young trees. Johnny’s Selected Seeds in Maine has donated seeds. A group of undergraduate students from Stanford University’s Faith in Action program propagated seeds. Angela Welte designed the raised bed plan and did other creative work as part of her horticultural therapy certificate program. Students in the summer camp program at Happy Heart Studio painted in bright cheerful colors those raised beds. Pajaro Valley Irrigation designed and supplied materials for the irrigation system. Many of these projects are on-going with the same volunteers. And Chris Roberts, a graduate of the Homeless Garden Project, is employed as the enthusiastic Vegetable Production Manager. In keeping with the environmentally-friendly goals of Costanoa, he uses a low-till method, employing hand tools for bed preparation and weed control, and incorporating compost and rabbit manure to increase fertility and soil health. He is responsible for seeding, tending the soil and the plants as they mature and then harvesting the crops. He will be using a market garden approach, farming in beds that are 32- to 36-inches wide and 100-feet long. Organically grown herbs, vegetables and flowers will fill the beds, including a big planting of dry-farmed tomatoes.
Cartan eagerly listed some of the farm’s goals for 2018 and beyond. A priority will be installation of a pathway of permeable materials that will circle the farm and insure accessibility for everyone, including those in wheelchairs. (This pathway will be wide enough for two people to travel side-by-side so that the mobility impaired and a companion can move about the farm together.) The acquisition of dwarf Nigerian goats is planned; the goats will provide an opportunity for lessons in animal husbandry but will also contribute manure to sustain the crops. A large area will be planted to pumpkins and winter squash (Delicata and Butternut) and another area to popcorn. The work on restoring the riparian zone and on creating wildlife habitat will continue. A regular newsletter will be published and the Facebook page will be added to. A portion of the big greenhouse (about 30 percent) will be used for propagating seedlings. A farm stand will be opened (permit already received), providing employment for one or more of the disadvantaged young adults, and supplying produce and flowers to the neighborhood. (Cartan knows that volunteers could man the farm stand at less cost but prefers to create a job manageable by a person with impairments. She sees the job as “not an efficiency but as an opportunity.”) A CSA will be inaugurated, with the first 25 customers joining on a trial basis; weekly boxes will include fresh eggs as well as vegetables, fruit and flowers. (If interested, email info@costanoacommons.com.) Bioswales will be installed with the guidance of Fall Creek Engineering. The drip irrigation system will be expanded as more beds are created, using drip materials that last for many seasons rather than those that are discarded after one use. Barbeques for volunteers and workshops for the Santa Cruz area community are also planned. The wider community will also be invited to participate in two work days per year, during which all will have a chance to contribute labor and expertise, and get to know the farm.
Two local service-oriented organizations have established a special on-going relationship with Costanoa Commons. The Monterey Bay Master Gardeners and the Monterey Bay Dahlia Society plan free workshops at the Farm during the growing season, covering garden-related topics and welcoming the wider community. They will also be planting a 100-foot row of dahlias with many of the plants donated by Corralitos Gardens. Some of the dahlias will be known developed plants but a portion of the bed will be a test garden for untried seedlings. The flowers produced will be sold at the farm stand to benefit Costanoa Commons Farm. Gloria Nieto (glorianieto@comcast.net), who belongs to both organizations, is the contact person for these projects.
Heidi Cartan warmly invites you to get involved with Costanoa Commons, in whatever capacity appeals to you. Abundant opportunities for volunteering or teaching await and donations are of course welcome. Join the CSA or buy from the farm stand. At the very least, come out to enjoy the beautiful farm with other members of our community. For information, visit costanoacommons.org.
Garden tips are provided courtesy of horticulturist Sharon Hull of the San Lorenzo Garden Center. Contact her at 831-423-0223.
If You Go
What: Monterey Bay Dahlia Society annual tuber and plant sale
When: Saturday April 7, 9:00a.m. — 11:00a.m. or until tubers sell out. Come early to insure good selection.
Where: Deer Park Shopping Center, 783 Rio Del Mar Blvd, Aptos, upper level near the Red Apple Café
Why: earnings from this annual sale provide funds for MBDS activities, including the projects at Costanoa Commons. It is a once-per-year opportunity to purchase locally grown prize-winning dahlias.
Details: santacruzdahlias@gmail.com or 566-2523
