Tierra Vegetables Land Fundraiser

Lee and Wayne James started farming Tierra Vegetables in 1980 on borrowed land with no money, just determination, some luck and a lot of hard work.

Over the years they have farmed a few different fields. For the past 23 years they have leased their current 10 acres at 651 Airport Blvd. in Santa Rosa from the Sonoma County Agriculture and Open Space District with the intention of eventually buying it. They built a highly productive farm from bare, abused land, moved a historic barn to the site and opened a farm stand. They supply restaurants with many crops that are unique to Tierra. Through their CSA and sales at the Ferry Plaza farmers market the farm feed hundreds of families every week. Together with the open space district, Tierra Vegetables has worked out a sales agreement for the land. This includes a conservation easement which restricts the development potential of this prime piece of property and an agricultural covenant which stipulates that the land must remain in agriculture. Lee and Wayne have just now signed the purchase agreement and have a deadline of December 1st 2025 to raise more money than they currently have.

If they fail to buy the land they will lose the farm. Over the years the farm has survived floods, droughts, fires and a pandemic. This step of buying the land is about preserving farmland, keeping fresh local food accessible and protecting a space where future generations can come together over good food.

Lee and Wayne are so fortunate to have partnered with Geoff Davis from Burdell restaurant who shares their ideals and passion for farming, good food and community. They are grateful that he will continue the legacy of Tierra.

If Tierra Vegetables has touched your life in any way — through a meal, through a visit, through a shared moment at the farm — please consider donating to help us secure this land. Every contribution, big or small, will make a difference. Please share our story so we can keep this farm alive for the next generation. We can't do this without you.

Thank you for your support!

Lee and Wayne