Small Family Farm Needs a Little Help

Greetings, Community Supporters of Local Family Farms

Rebecca and I, Farmer George, are reaching out to you, our community, on behalf of South Coast Farms, our cherished, local family farm nestled in the last remaining "country" left in South Orange County.

South Coast Farms is not just a farm; we are a vibrant community that nourishes both the land and the people who call it their local go-to source for delicious, safe to eat, fresh fruits and vegetables.

Since 1996, South Coast Farms has been a beacon of sustainable agriculture, cultivating organic and pesticide-free produce while fostering a strong sense of community. Our commitment to safe farming practices, local food production, and providing fresh, locally grown produce, from field to you, has made us an integral part of San Juan Capistrano and its surrounding neighborhoods for almost three decades.

Our Challenge:

Like many community farms today, South Coast Farms faces significant financial challenges that threaten its ability to continue its valuable work. Hyper-inflated operating costs (fertilizer, seed, labor, etc.), weather uncertainties/extremes, competition from both non-profits that deceitfully benefit from our reputation and foreign agribusiness have put a strain on our resources.

As an example of the weather uncertainties our strawberry crop of 2023 washed away during the heavy rains last winter. We replanted but the delay in harvest created more losses.

Over the past year, South Coast Farms applied for grant funding from the USDA. This funding was specifically intended to support small farmers that suffered considerable losses during the pandemic and weather events of 2021-2022. Large corporate farms received over $13 billion in funding from these programs but small farms such as ourselves fell through the cracks. Many corporate owners in California, the rice, cotton and dairy agribusiness conglomerates received grants as large as $750,000.

The USDA FSA Pandemic Assistance Relief Program was designed to specifically help small “specialty“ growers such as us and whom the USDA described as underserved. But while the intent was good the program was severely underfunded. The result was maximum payments to small farmers of $11,800. Not much when compared to what the actual losses were in 2020-2022 for small growers who were cut off from markets by the disruptions caused by the pandemic and lost revenues from crop losses due to climate change.

Having our application approved in June of 2023 we were optimistic this program would save us from the great financial hardship we were under. So we sent in our largest tractor for repairs. We hired people to help us while we both recovered from surgeries all the while counting on the USDA funding. Now, with that hope shattered we are in danger of losing this machinery, our beloved John Deere!

Small farmers such as us receive little attention from the USDA, nor do we receive investment from large corporations. While we understand that our average fellow human might not understand the important role that community supported, sustainable agriculture plays in this nation’s food systems, we expected better from the governing body who is supposed to be looking out for us farmers. As a result of this heedlessness, small farms are – at worst – going under, or – at best – cast as de facto nonprofits without the benefits of nonprofit status. Farming is never easy, but farmers have mastered the arts of learning, adapting, and persisting for the sake of healthy and sustainable food systems.

I have said it before, and I’ll say it again: I farmed myself into this. I can farm my way out of it. But, as the Beatles and Joe Cocker said, we could use "A Little Help From Our Friends”.

Our Mission:

We've launched this GoFundMe campaign to rally the community and beyond to support South Coast Farms in overcoming these challenges. Your generous contributions will go directly towards:

Sustainable Farming Practices: Investing in eco-friendly initiatives that preserve the land and promote biodiversity.

Infrastructure Upgrades: Ensuring the farm's longevity by addressing critical infrastructure needs such as our tractor back home, an upgraded cooler, a greenhouse for transplant growing and vehicle and machinery maintenance and repairs.

Why Support South Coast Farms?

By supporting South Coast Farms, you are not just investing in a farm; you are investing in the health of your community, the environment, and the future of sustainable agriculture. Every dollar contributed helps keep this vital community resource alive and thriving.

How You Can Help:

Donate: Your financial support, no matter how small, will make a significant impact.

Share: Spread the word! Share this campaign with friends, family, and on social media to broaden our reach.

Engage: Volunteer your time or skills to support South Coast Farms directly.

Together, we can ensure that South Coast Farms continues to be a beacon of sustainability, education, and community spirit. Let's sow the seeds of a brighter, greener future together!

Thank you for being a part of this important journey.

With gratitude,

Farmer George & Rebecca