The farm is green and lush right now. The weeds and flowers are all growing together in a kind of wild tumble. It’s a beautiful time of year, and I feel a little sad that we are closed. I wish everyone could see how pretty it is.

Today was a lovely Sunday. Our children came to visit, and afterwards I thought, I’m not doing any more chores. Instead, I sat down to write to you all and share some of the current news from the farm.

First, the farmstand will reopen on Saturday, May 2, from 9 to 5. After that, we will be open Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 9 to 5 through December. We are looking forward to opening the doors again and filling the stand with flowers, local organic produce from neighboring farms, jams, honey, olive oil, and fresh bread. And I haven’t forgotten how much you all love the Dolly Farm handpies. They will be back.

I’m very excited to share that the Chicken Guide Handbook is finished.

This has been months in the making. With the help of my daughter Emma and her talent for formatting and design, I think we’ve created something that will be truly helpful for anyone raising backyard chickens or thinking about starting. This guidebook covers everything from day old chicks to laying hens and everything in between.

It brings together what I’ve learned from more than 25 years of raising chickens, both on pasture and through running a poultry business. It’s filled with 46 pages of practical information, field notes, videos, and the kind of hands-on experience that only comes from doing this work day after day.

The guide is now available on our website and this link is live Soul Food Farm Guide to Raising Backyard Chickens

And last but not least, Rose and I have finally finished the new lavender field, a joint project with Morning Sun Herb Farm. The young lavender plants went into the ground in November, and just last week we were able to install the irrigation.

This meant renting a trencher, laying hundreds of feet of two-inch PVC, building upright pipes for water flow, and installing a line of sprinklers to help protect the field in case of fire. Plus running back to the store countless times for all the little bits and pieces we needed. It’s been all hands on deck as we worked to finish up before the end of March. Special thanks to our partners Dan and Eric. We do ask alot of them!

We turned on the water, no leaks, and the lavender received its first drink a few days ago. With such a dry winter, the timing felt just right, especially with these warm temperatures.

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading our most recent news. Now that we’re heading into April, I just want to say I’m looking forward to seeing everyone back at the farm when we reopen in May and spending more time staying in touch with Substack.

Warmly

Alexis

We harvested the new olive oil in October 2025 and have kept it in cold storage to allow the sediment to settle over the last few months. During this quiet time of year, it also gave us a chance to take a bottle to the lab last week for a chemical analysis. What is the quality of the olive oil we produce? This is what I wanted to know. The results came back yesterday.

I’m excited to tell you that the numbers on that lab report show this isn’t just good olive oil, this is amazing olive oil!

And most importantly, according to the lab report, it is officially extra virgin olive oil, rich in polyphenols, the compounds that give fresh olive oil its brightness, stability, and that lively peppery finish.

So why a lab report? Because even though I thought it was probably extra virgin olive oil, in all fairness I couldn’t tell customers that. For it to be official and to put it on the label through the California Olive Oil Council, I had to let the lab provide that verification. The test results gave me other technical information about the olives that’s important for me as a grower, but what matters for you is this. It meets the standard for EVOO.

I wanted to share this stepping stone in our olive oil journey so you can be part of the farm even if its just through the written word. The farm is always evolving, and sharing our story with our farm friends is what it’s all about.

Many of you have had our olive oil, sat in the orchard for a quiet lunch, or had your pictures taken under the trees. In one way or another, you have shared our vision to create something beautiful and delicious We are so proud of this little orchard at Soul Food Farm, (the right word is olive grove, but I always call it an orchard.) We hope you come back when the farm reopens in May and walk under her branches.

We planted the trees 26 years ago. It was my sister Elida’s idea. She said, “Let’s plant 50 trees.” And I said, “Fifty? Let’s plant 500.” Of course, Capricorn, I went overboard. But she agreed, and we did it. Out of those orginal tree’s 300 survived.

It was a huge learning curve because I had zero experience planting a orchard. After caring for the young tree's for seven years, we finally brought in our first harvest. It was small, but we were so proud. Since about 2008, Soul Food Farm has been producing olive oil commercially and learning more each year about how to care for the trees and how to produce truly high quality oil.

We have committed ourselves to letting the orchard express itself as much as it chooses, without a lot of interference from me. I prune the trees. I arrange the harvest. And I love them.

We never spray chemicals. We manage pest problems by trying to understand the pest’s life cycle and mitigating the conditions that support it. And we do not irrigate the tree’s. This is called dry farming.

We dry farm for several reasons, but the most important one is this: When you taste our olive oil without irrigation, pushing the trees every year, you are tasting the true essence of that season.

The wind.

The sun.

The rainfall.

The health of the soil.

The animals that passed through.

The pest pressure.

The beneficial insects.

Sometimes we have a big harvest. Sometimes it is small. Sometimes the olives are plump. Sometimes they are smaller.

But each season is an expression of what nature chose to do. And we hope you taste that when you use our olive oil.

Soul Food Farm olive oil is officially extra virgin olive oil and we couldn’t be happier.

Available soon.

As we head into the quieter months on the farm, I wanted to take a moment to share something important.

Each year, we invite our community to join us as Soul Food Farm Supporter Members. A twentyfive dollar membership helps sustain the farm through the winter and early spring, before we reopen the Farmstand in May. It supports the land, the behind the scenes work, and our ability to keep building a small farm rooted in local food and small farmers.

Our goal this season is to reach 100 Supporter Members. Right now, we are just getting started.

If you love this place, the flowers, the food, the Farmstand, or simply knowing this farm exists, this is a meaningful way to help keep it going.

Supporter Members receive a few thank you perks, including fifteen percent off workshops, early entry to events, and a members only farm day. More than anything, this membership is about support.

You can become a Supporter Of the Farm Here:

Farm Supporter Membership

Thank you for being friends of the farm and for caring about this place. It truly matters.

With gratitude,

Alexis Koefoed

As the year comes to a close, I want to pause and thank all of you, our customers, friends, and neighbors, who spent time with us at the farm this year. Whether you stopped by the farmstand regularly or just once, your presence here matters. Farming is never done alone, and this place is shaped as much by the people who visit as by the crops we grow.

Before we fully tuck the season in for winter, I want to share two ways you can stay connected to the farm year-round and, if you are looking, two meaningful holiday gifts that support local agriculture.

Farm Membership

Building the farmstand has been an adventure and one of the most important projects we have started here at the farm. Soul Food Farm Reserve, The Farmstand, is seasonal, and we are deeply committed to working with small family farmers, alongside what we grow ourselves, olive oil, flowers, herbs, and farm eggs.

Each year, we invite our community to purchase a Farm Membership to support this work and help us continue building the best little farmstand possible. Memberships directly support the farmstand's steady expansion, enabling us to continue growing and working with local farmers.

Memberships also make a thoughtful holiday gift, a simple and meaningful way to support a working farm year-round Membership

As a member, you receive several Farm Perks, including a 15% discount on farm workshops, a members-only farm day, and early access to farm events.

Spring Flower CSA

Our Spring Flower CSA is a four week, farm grown flower subscription for anyone who loves flowers and the quiet ritual of arranging them at home.

Each week, flowers are hand harvested at the ideal stage for long lasting blooms. The Bucket of Flowers subscription includes a loose mix of farm flowers, foliage, and foraged blooms, meant for creating your own arrangements or sharing with friends. Spring Flower CSA

Spring flowers may include daffodils, ranunculus, larkspur, stock, foxgloves, statice, bachelor buttons, roses, sweet peas, and other seasonal flowers.

CSA pickup takes place at the Soul Food Farmstand on Saturday mornings from 9 to 12. The subscription runs for four weeks, and because we are always working with nature, we will notify members approximately two weeks before the first pickup, in early May.

Here at the farm, I work mainly alone, so out of necessity, the Spring Flower CSA is limited to the first 15 people who sign up.

CSAs are one of the most direct ways to support local farms, and they also come with a meaningful discount. Each bucket of flowers typically retails for about $50, while CSA members receive the same bucket for $34 per week. Why? Purchasing a Spring Flower CSA during the winter helps us plan for the season ahead. It allows us to order seeds, start them in the greenhouse, and schedule planting before the season begins. Because of your support, we can offer a discount on flowers as a thank-you!

If you would like to join us, you can purchase a Farm Membership or Spring Flower CSA using the links below.

Farm Membership

Spring Flower CSA Spring Flower CSA Subscription 2026 — Soul Food Farm

We wish you all the best during the holiday season, and we can’t wait to see you all again when we reopen in May 2026

Earlier this year, on a rainy January night (it was 2 in the morning), it seemed like a brilliant idea to order daffodil bulbs (I was binging on online seed catalogs). And before I knew it, I had ordered five thousand daffodil bulbs. In the morning, I thought, What have I done? But November felt a million years away, and surely I’d have all the flower beds ready by then.

The bulbs arrived a few weeks ago… and not one dang flower bed was ready

So it’s been a planting marathon ever since.

With the low-hanging tule fog, the days feel quiet, slow, and bone-deep cold. I’m planting bulbs in raised beds and field rows, under trees, and in pots. It’s a kind of madness. And yet, no matter how many bulbs I plant, there seems to be absolutely no dent in the remaining crates.

As of this morning, I have at least 2000 in the ground. Rain is forecast to pour for the next week, but that fits perfectly into my plans, with a second wave of bulb planting scheduled for January and February. The idea is to stagger planting, creating waves of blooms rather than all at once. Fingers crossed!

Out in the field, my hands stiffen from the cold, and the hours tick by, but all I can see is the farm awash in blooms next spring when we reopen the farm.

Daffodils are the most nostalgic of flowers. Their scent brings back memories of springtime when I was a child, which is pure fantasy, because I don’t really remember daffodils in my parents’ garden. They could have been there, I suppose, but it’s more that somewhere in the past I smelled spring in those flowers, and it has never left me.

Next spring, you’ll see the varieties being planted at the farm, with marvelous names like Sir Winston Churchill, White Lion, Pink Charm, and Yellow Cheerfulness, rows of flowers for you to admire or take home en masse in bouquets.

And when they bloom, they will have good company with ranunculus, larkspur, honeywort, calendula, poppies, and roses, which all share the spring garden at the farm.

If you're planning to try bulbs this year in your garden, here are a few daffodil planting tips.

• Plant bulbs close together for that abundant, lush look

• Place roots down with the pointy tip facing up

• Dig at least 4/5 inches down and cover or plant on top of the soil, and cover with dirt, leaves, and mulch to a depth of 4 - 6 inches, depending on the size of the bulb.

• Rule of thumb: if you're unsure of how deep to bury bulbs, since some varieties are different in size, dig down into the soil about 3× the height of the bulb

• For a natural look, toss or scatter the bulbs first, then dig where they land

• Don’t forget to plant some in pots to enjoy indoors

Thank you all for a wonderful 2025 at the farm and for supporting the farmstand and local farmers with your purchases. We can’t wait to welcome you back in May 2026.

The Olive Harvest

Summer has slipped away, and today’s crisp fall air feels like a gentle reminder of all the goodness this season brings. The olive harvest is in, the bulbs are tucked into the ground, and Rose and I have planted our new lavender field. Fall is such a time of abundance; farmers are pressing fresh olive oil, growers are picking citrus, pomegranates, persimmons, and walnuts, and fall vegetables are making their way back to the markets. Beets, lettuces, leeks, and Swiss chard are finding their way onto our tables again, nudging us toward pots of soup, cozy stews, and meals that feed both our families and our spirits.

In the middle of all the end-of-year work, we’re also doing one of my favorite things: seeding the flowers that will overwinter in the raised beds and in the ground. Sweet peas, ranunculus, larkspur, snapdragons, and daffodils are all being planted now, getting ready for the spring garden. There’s something so comforting about planting seeds, plugs, and bulbs while Spring is still far in the future, promising good things to come.

Daffodil Bulbs

As the days grow shorter, we’re getting ready to wrap up for the year. The rains have started, the farmstand is winding down, and November 22 and November 29 will be our last two days of the season. We’ll finish with one festive hurrah at the Christmas Fair on Saturday, December 6th, from 9–3 at Morningsun Herb Farm.

Every year, Rose, who owns Morningsun Herb Farm , and I host a small, heartfelt Christmas Fair for our farm community. There will be donkeys dressed like elves, local farmers and makers, music, and that cozy, old-fashioned feeling of gathering together. It’s the perfect day to reconnect with neighbors, meet your local farmers and small business owners, and enjoy the warmth of the season.

We are also hosting a Toy Drive on the same day as the Christmas Fair, so please consider bringing a small new toy. Rose and I will donate all the toys to Toys for Tots, supported by our local Fire Department.

Soul Food Farm Reserve, The Farmstand will reopen in May, and all those spring flowers we’re planting right now will be front and center, ready to greet you when the new season begins.

We want to thank every single person who stopped by the farmstand this year and showed their love for local farmers and all things small, handmade, and delicious. As a little thank-you, we’re sharing a special coupon just for our Substack readers to use at the Christmas Fair on December 6th, hosted at Morningsun Herb Farm. Please bring a printed copy or show it on your phone to receive a thank you discount at the Soul Food Farm booth. We’ll have our olive oil, fresh flower arrangements, wreaths, garlands, and handmade jams, all the things we’ve poured our hearts into this season.

Thank you for being part of our farm community. Here’s to fall’s abundance, the promise of spring, and the simple joy of gathering.

Eric & Alexis Koefoed

Planning Our 2025 Olive Harvest

I’m sitting at the farmstand today working on the computer and the weather has a chill. I’m wrapped in a sweater, even while the sun keeps shining and low hanging clouds drift by. Next week, the forecast calls for rain, and while I love the first serious rain, it’s also a reminder to hustle and finish the last projects of the year.

At the top of the list? Planning the olive harvest for our 2025 vintage of Soul Food Farm olive oil. What always takes some explaining is that while we harvest in the fall, the olive oil is released in Spring. The reasons are two-fold. One, it gives the olive oil a chance for sediment to naturally drift out, making the oil visually clearer, and second, we’re closed for the winter months.

Today I’ve been juggling calls between the labor company, the mill, and Eric’s work schedule, trying to coordinate a harvest day in the next two weeks. It looks like we’ve settled on October 27th, but everything still hinges on the weather. If it rains that week or on the day we may have to cancel the pick, and that uncertainty keeps us on edge.

The Timing of the Harvest

Every year, it’s a bit of a guessing game. The olives are mostly green now, with some berries moving into the blush stage. Our goal is to harvest about 30% green berries and the remaining 70% a mix of blush and ripe.

As the weather shifts between rainy days and warm sun, the olives continue to ripen. I won’t know for sure if we’ll hit that perfect balance until closer to October 27th. Whatever the ultimate blend ends up being, it’s a perfect reflection of a year long process from pruning to bloom and then watching the baby berries grow into mature olives.

The Realities of Small-Scale Olive Oil Production

While the romanticism of harvesting olives is true, there’s a very real, practical side. Hiring labor is the only way to bring in the harvest, but the cost is steep. That’s why we focus on harvesting as much as possible in just one day. A second day of hand-picking isn’t financially feasible for a small olive oil business like ours.

Then come the other costs: transporting the olives to the mill, pressing them, bottling, and labeling. For a tiny producer like us, in a world of medium, and large olive farms, our costs often sit at the top of the price range. But we make it work.

And while our olive oil may be more expensive then other store labels, more and more people are recognizing the value of handmade food, pure California olive oil from local farmers, and supporting small farms that employ their own communities.

The olive harvest is what we work for all year. It touches our hearts that these trees, year after year, produce olive oil as golden and delicious as it is. That these trees can live thousands of years is humbling.

We’re all about living in the moment and indulging in good food. When you have something as special as locally grown olive oil, don’t save it. Use it. Enjoy it. Pour it over everything ! This is what makes life so wonderful, the bounty that Mother Earth provides.

We have our Soul Food Farm Olive Oil available at the Farmstand on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 9-5. This time of year, we have 500 ml for $30 and 375 ml bottles at a special price of $20 , and 1/2 gallon jugs for $75.

― Dr. Christine Jones

Eric and I own Soul Food Farm, a small, diverse farm in Northern California. My dreams and work as a farmer have been grounded in the ever-deepening awareness of how fragile and resilient the natural world is. Ever since moving onto this land, I’ve had a growing apprehension that a shift was occurring in nature. Over the last twenty years, I’ve noticed weather patterns changing. Our olive harvest has shifted from early December to early October over the past 15 years.

The lavender plants that first budded in July moved into June, and in 2023 flower buds began to appear in early May. What was shrugged off as an anomaly 25 years ago is now acknowledged as climate change and its sister companion, biodiversity degradation. I have looked on in dismay as world governments and corporations promote the use of herbicides, pesticides, and inorganic fertilizers to control and modify nature. This corporate investment in agriculture relies on technological, scientific, and artificial “solutions” that divorce humans from the natural world. A separation we can now acknowledge is destroying our planet and human health. Our disregard for nature and attempts to force it into submission have left us to bear witness to the loss of species, the contamination of crops, the depletion of soils, the disappearance of natural waterways, and desertification. Tragically, these are just a few of the concerns citizens of the world must face. Secondary fractures of these pressures are wars, mass migration, and food insecurity.

The disturbing reality is that there is no future if we continue to mismanage our lands and ecosystems. As a human species, we are confronted with the undeniable fact that we are more tied to the earth than we have been willing to admit. As the world has become more cosmopolitan, technical, and consumer-centric, we have forgotten that nature still dictates our longevity as a human species. I believe deeply that instead of succumbing to fear and inaction, we can view this moment in history as an opportunity to overcome and change the dominant paradigm in favor of a holistic cultural shift that can redefine health for human populations and the planet.

The ability of Regenerative Agriculture to restore grasslands and return carbon to the soil is our best hope to move forward and save the planet. The salvation of the world is possible, and the answer lies beneath our feet.

What is Regenerative Agriculture?

“Regenerative Agriculture is a holistic land management practice that leverages the power of photosynthesis in plants to close the carbon cycle and build soil health, crop resilience, and nutrient density.”

— The Carbon Underground and Regenerative Agriculture Initiative, February 16, 2017

In short, a way of farming that restores soil, water, and ecosystems by working with nature instead of against it.

Here are some of the outcomes of Regenerative Agriculture:

• Restoring grasslands from annual grasses to perennial deep-rooted grasses

• Incorporating new grazing knowledge and techniques to repair degraded soils

• Using the power of grazing ruminants to build soil health

• Teaching herders and grazers new skills that directly connect to regenerative practices

• Sequestering carbon back into the soil

• Restoring streams and creeks by building soil health and tilth, which creates effective rainfall

• Educating communities with a new perspective centered on regenerative practices

• Rebuilding species habitats

As climate shifts continue to defy our targeted expectations, we are suddenly grasping through good science, research, and observation that there is a deep relationship between nature and ourselves. In other words, we cannot ignore the changes in our climate and landscapes and not connect those changes directly to our own well-being, health, safety, and livelihood. And also take responsibility for the collapse of our ecosystems and the loss of species. The degradations we are seeing in the natural world is of our own making.

We need to reclaim the label of “scientific progress” from those who seek to circumvent and exploit nature. Our best hope is to apply the scientific method to better understand and explore the harmony between plants, animals, and the natural world that surrounds us—using that knowledge to restore abundance. Nature has a remarkable ability to heal itself when provided with the right conditions. Regenerative Land Management or Regenerative Agriculture practices are powerful tools that can achieve just that.

In Smithsonian Magazine, there was a compelling article about how forests “live in cooperative, interdependent relationships, maintained by communication and a collective intelligence similar to an insect colony.”

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-whispering-trees-180968084/

In The Scientist, we read how “plants engage in regular conversation… alert each other to threatening pathogens and impending droughts, and even recognize kin, continually adapting to the information they receive from plants growing around them.”

https://www.the-scientist.com/features/plant-talk-38209

From insights such as these, we can only marvel at what they reveal about the world around us. This moment in time, with all its challenges and obstacles, offers an opportunity for great achievements. By recreating new management approaches with empirical data gathered from decades of regenerative agriculture practices, we can begin to reverse much of the damage humans have done to the Earth.

We are running out of time to continue the debate of whether climate change is real or not. The time for action is now. Modern-day advances allow us to harness the connective power of technology to bring the world together on a massive scale to quickly implement much-needed environmental changes and generate the capital to make decisions swiftly and decisively.

Each individual effort has an impact. From large-scale agribusinesses redesigning their land management practices to cattle ranchers worldwide reversing grassland degradation, and from customers who demand ethically farmed food and fiber, we can make progress toward reversing the man-made damage that is destroying our basic resources. We need clean air, water, and healthy soils; without these fundamental human needs, we will have squandered the greatest gift we were given, Earth.

Written in 2023.

Saturday, September 20th, is the 9th Annual Open Farm Day!

Once a year, the farmers and makers along Pleasants Valley Road throw open their gates and invite you—the community—to meet your local farmers.

This year, four farms are hosting Open Farm Day: Morningsun Herb Farm, Brazelton Ranch, Summerfield Cattle Ranch, and Soul Food Farm. At each stop, you’ll meet local farmers and makers sharing the very best of what they grow and create: organic vegetables, handmade jams, flowers, wool and fiber projects, local beef, and more.

And for a special treat, Summerfield Cattle Ranch will be offering hayrides throughout the day.

Spend the day in the valley, support your farmers and neighbors, and help us grow low-impact agritourism that sustains local agriculture.

Buy One Ticket Full Price and Second Ticket is 50% off Summer Harvest Celebration Tomato Preserving Party September 3, Lafayette

$187.50

September 3, 2025

This pricing is for two tickets. One at the full price and one for 50% off for a total of two tickets.

10am-1pm Lafayette, California wth and and Soul Food Farm.

Join renowned garden designer and author Stefani Bittner, Rose Lovell of Morningsun Herb Farm and Alexis of Soul Food Farms for a joyful, hands-on celebration of the summer tomato harvest. In this immersive workshop, you'll learn to preserve the season’s bounty by making vibrant tomato jam and learn how to preserve tomatoes via canning. We will also enjoy a fresh tomato sauce perfect for homemade pizzas. We'll roll up our sleeves in the kitchen and then head outdoors to bake pizzas in the garden, savoring the fruits of our labor under the summer sky.

The experience doesn't end with tomatoes — we'll also whip up a homemade basil, tomato ice cream to enjoy alongside our garden feast. Whether you're an experienced gardener, a passionate cook, or simply a lover of summer’s flavors, this class offers a memorable afternoon of learning, creating, and eating together in a beautiful, abundant setting.

Come celebrate the peak of the season and take home recipes, new skills, and delicious memories. To Register, use this link:.Tomoato Class

NEXT UP:

Open Farm Day on September 20th, 9 AM–3 PM!

Once a year, farmers in Pleasants Valley open their gates to welcome the community onto the land. Come meet your local farmers, hear their stories, explore the history of Pleasants Valley, and enjoy farm goods grown right here in Solano County. It’s our way of connecting with the families and farm friends who make this community thrive.

Farmstand Hours: Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, 9-5 ( August 23, we will close at 3 due to the heat)

We are committed to working with small family farmers and bringing to you fresh, handmade, and delicious local products: bread, honey, olive oil, produce, and handmade jams.

Summer has finally arrived, and we’re bracing for a heat wave this week. After such a cool season, it feels a little peevish to complain—but still, anything over 100 degrees means all hands on deck. We’re filling up the water troughs, shading plants, moving animals, and setting up misters for the chickens.

Earlier this month, I managed to take a few days off and went to Point Reyes. I realized August was nearly gone, and I hadn’t had a real break since the beginning of the year. I rented a small farmhouse on the coast and spent time with my friends at and .

An old dairy out where the Tule Elk roam

The first evening started with good wine, local cheese, and a crusty loaf of bread… and a wild idea that kept us talking late into the night. Something new is coming, and we can’t wait to share it with you—announcement soon!” We also rolled up our sleeves and began fine-tuning our 2026 garden tour in Italy, where we’ll be taking 20 lucky travelers for what we like to call grown-up summer camp. And closer to home, we have more workshops here in California that weave together farming, landscape design, and the joy of growing herbs and perennials.

To find out what’s happening in our neck of the woods, follow the and websites which list classes and workshops.

Back at Soul Food Farm, August has been all about projects. We’re building a new garden to bridge the space between the walking path and the gravel garden in front of the farmstand. New fences, rock walls, potted trees, and even a water trough pond are all in the works, and we hope to share something beautiful with you by the end of September.

This week, another delivery of lavender plugs arrived. Tomorrow we’ll begin transplanting them into 3-inch pots so they can grow strong before we plant the new lavender field later this fall, ideally timed with the first rains in October or November.

It’s been a month of planning, design, and creating infrastructure, but all of it is laying the groundwork for 2026 and a farm that is more welcoming and beautiful. We want you to hang out and relax and let the quiet serenity of the farm melt your worries away.

Ben Lyons owner of Lockewood Acre with his wife Denise

Of course, the heart of our work each week remains the farmstand. We continue to welcome new visitors and greet familiar faces who return week after week. Everything we offer is locally grown or handmade: olive oil, bread, soap, and fresh produce from Lockewood Acres and Farmboy Organics, which tastes delicious.

You’ll also find handmade bird feeders from a sweet couple in Fairfield, books from authors who have taught workshops here, dried lavender, local honey, and farm eggs from our new flock of happy hens.

EVENTS TO PLAN FOR:

We have over a dozen farms that are now participating. Follow the Pleasants Valley Agriculture Association on Instagram for more local farm news and events.

To see what is happening at the Soul Food Farm Farmstand, follow us on Instagram for photos, news, and what’s stocked at Soul Food Farm Reserve, The Farmstand. Hours are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, 9-5

Agritourism is now the anchor we must recognize as essential for keeping small family farms functioning and building economic stability.

We often talk about “agricultural viability,” which is quite different from economic stability. Economic stability refers to steady growth, low overhead, and balanced employment—all the ingredients that help a standard business rise to financial success.

Viability in business refers to the ability to be profitable and to sustain growth. The keyword here is “ability,” which implies potential. But we need to move away from language that merely suggests potential. We must speak of farming and agriculture as stable, necessary industries and treat them with the same opportunistic, value-driven strategies that are common practice in other sectors.

The Small Family Farmers as a Regional Economic Engine

The small family farmer is not a symbol of smallness—it’s a business model contributing to community building and regional economic growth. These farms act as centralized financial engines, boosting local economies and contributing to city and county revenue.

The Local Multiplier Effect illustrates how a dollar circulates within a region. When you spend $1 at a small, locally owned business, about $0.60–0.70 cents stays in the local economy. That dollar circulates 2–3 times, building economic resilience. In contrast, when you shop at a big-box store, only $0.13–$ 0.40 stays local, and in many cases, those dollars leave the community immediately.

Understanding this multiplier effect helps us see why the arrival of big-box retailers often leads to the decline of small independent businesses. This is the environment in which small farmers are trying to survive. The challenge isn’t that farming can’t be profitable—it’s that large agribusinesses and corporations largely control the inputs for agriculture. Farmers are tied up in endless debt from banks, and their traditional outlets—selling food directly within their regions—have been overtaken by large grocery chains.

Why Agritourism Matters Now More Than Ever

Rebuilding a direct-to-consumer business model is what makes agritourism so valuable and essential. Agritourism is no longer just a fun or educational activity for day-trippers—it is now a vital business model that can ensure a farm’s profitability.

That reality is being increasingly recognized at the state level. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has committed significant resources to support agritourism as a driver of rural stability. In 2024, the CDFA awarded over $23 million in Specialty Crop Block Grants, with several projects focused on strengthening direct-to-consumer models through agritourism. One such effort, the Open Farm Passport Project, will bring more than 10,000 visitors to over 130 farms across nine counties—directly connecting people to working farms and generating income through product sales and on-farm experiences. Additionally, CDFA is partnering with UC Agriculture and Natural Resources to host the California Agritourism Summit in 2025, fostering strategic partnerships and providing a platform for knowledge-sharing among farmers, planners, and community organizers.

This level of direct-to-consumer engagement surpasses even farmers markets in its potential. While there are different degrees of agritourism, low-impact models often make more sense for certain regions than high-brand experiences like those in wine country.

The Barrier: Undefined Ordinances and Unrealistic Requirements

Unfortunately, one of the most significant barriers to agritourism is undefined local ordinances. While counties and cities often view agritourism as a financial boon, they sometimes impose burdensome permitting processes and infrastructure demands that far exceed what a small farm can afford.

Small farmers should not be held to the same standards as grocery stores, box chains, amusement parks, or restaurants. Low-impact agritourism should operate within a farm’s means, using the elements already in place.

The goal of agritourism as an economic driver is not to force farmers into debt by demanding expensive infrastructure, but to enable them to meet requirements in affordable and flexible ways. A farm is not just a business—it’s a place of animals, soil, history, and land. Requiring a paved asphalt parking lot, for example, is an unrealistic demand that fails to consider the agricultural context.

Agritourism is a Core Strategy, Not Just Potential.

Family farmers involved in agritourism can generate tens of thousands of dollars for their local economies. Visitors spend money not just on the farm, but at nearby gas stations, restaurants, hotels, and more.

With this key framework in mind, agrotourism can no longer be viewed merely as a potential avenue for farm businesses—it must be recognized as a core component of any farm’s mission statement or business plan.

Likewise, any county or city planning for a future rooted in tourism, food security, and agricultural stability must also account for the significant monetary benefits that agrotourism contributes to local government coffers.

How you can help.

1. Share posts and marketing from your favorite farmers and small business owners.

2. Shop at local, independently owned agricultural businesses

3. Visit your small farms, roadside stands, and u-picks

4. Visit your country events, open farm days, and farm-to-table dinners,

5. Sign up for on-farm workshops and lectures.

Thank you

Alexis Koefoed

The farmstand is bursting with color, the weather can’t decide what season it is, and we’re juggling everything from building flower beds to chasing cows and planning a mobile coffee bar ( more on that soon)—just another week at Soul Food Farm.

The weeks roll by, and I feel guilty for not staying on top of our newsletter. There’s so much to share about the farm and the farmstand—it all tumbles across the days like a wave, and I’m just hanging on.

Mid-June is here, and the weather has been relatively mild for early summer. Today, it reached 86 degrees, with some hotter days expected midweek. Then suddenly, next Saturday, the forecast says 79. While the weather can’t quite make up its mind, I’m still bracing for those 90- and even 100-degree days that are typical of our region.

The farmstand has been open for over two and a half months, and we’re so happy to see people returning to the farm. The signs on the road seem to be key in bringing folks in, making me wonder why we think we can’t survive without social media. Then again, I love sharing photos and videos on Instagram. So if you want a daily dose of farm love, follow Soul Food Farm on IG.

Exciting news: the farmstand is expanding as we begin working with more farmers, like Farmboy Organics. They grow beautiful and delicious vegetables, and we pick up an order from them every week—beets, lettuce, and new potatoes, to name a few. What makes it truly magical is that new things ripen in their fields as the season progresses and make their way to Soul Food Farm.

Starting Saturday, June 21st, Lockewood Acres will join us for a Saturday-only Pop-Up here at the farm. They’ll offer fresh veggies, value-added products like handmade garlic salt, pomegranate shrub, and incredible pastured pork. Bacon, anyone?

The farmstand is constantly changing, with new items arriving regularly alongside the tried-and-true favorites you all love—like fresh Acme bread, Soul Food Farm olive oil, cut flowers, honey… well, you get the idea.

Our farmstand, Soul Food Farm Reserve, is open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM. Visit us for locally produced goods, stay a while, and soak up the farm's beauty. Bring a picnic and sit at one of the tables in the Olive Orchard.

Walk the farm, feel the sun on your face.

We’d love to see you this week at Soul Food Farm.

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS:

These classes are a collaboration between Morningsun Herb Farm and Soul Food Farm

CLASS: August 5th.

To join, use this link: Pickle Party Class

⸻

This newsletter is meant to catch you up on the last few months at the farm and encourage you to come for a visit. The olive orchard is pruned, mowed and looking quiet elegant. We have tables under the tree’s for picnics, long talks or for running away with a good book. The Farmstand is open for buisness and our baby chicks have grown up and will be laying eggs by June.

April and May have been filled with activity here at the farm. The killer marathon weeding the farm for our niece’s wedding, pruning the olive grove, planting the gardens, harvesting flowers,and welcoming visitors back to Soul Food Farm, there hasn’t been a quiet moment.

Running a farm feels like a daily race—balancing the essential tasks that keep things moving forward while planning for the future. Every Monday morning starts with seeding flowers so we can continue planting successions of cut flowers from spring through summer, and with a bit of luck, into early fall.

Midweek is usually spent in the gardens, tackling repairs, and handling general upkeep. Which basically means more weeding, mowing down grass, building protective cages around new tree’s or building new flower beds. Often, the day starts with just one or two items on the list, and by mid-morning, it has grown into a full-on sprint. It’s almost as if the endless list of chores writes itself.

Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays are all about the farmstand. From 9 to 5, it’s our top priority to keep it stocked with goods from Soul Food Farm and other small family farms. Officially named Soul Food Farm Reserve, the stand reflects our evolving mission—to do what we love while committing to a vision of supporting local farmers. Our goal is to help rebuild a vibrant, resilient local economy where farmers thrive and communities grow stronger.

When you shop at the farmstand, your dollars go directly toward supporting farmers and circulating money within the local community, unlike when you shop at a box store, where your money leaves town instantly.

We love filling the farmstand with organic produce , small-batch jams, honey, eggs, Acme Bread, olive oil and curated books on gardening, cooking, and farming. There’s so much more and each week we have new things to share.

And then there are the wonderful surprises, like when a local farmer pulls up with a truck full of produce or fruit and asks if I’d like to buy some for the farmstand. The answer is always YES.

Thank you for following along with Soul Food Farm and supporting us since our inception. We look forward to welcoming you back to the farmstand! Regular Hours: Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, 9 AM – 5 PM

Sundays will be reserved for workshops or private events booked at the farm.

If you enjoy reading our Substack, please consider becoming a paid subscriber to support our work. We strive to offer valuable content and share good information.

You can also enjoy daily photos and musings on the Soul Food Farm Instagram page.

For our story, visit www.soulfoodfarm.com

See You Soon!

Alexis

WORKSHOPS AND ACTIVITIES:

A Collabortion between , Morningsun Herb Farm and Soul Food Farm.

May 21, 2025 Tea Garden: Design, Plants & Arrangement at a private garden in Lafayette, Ca 10am - 12:30pm

Step into the soothing world of tea with our Tea Garden Design class! This hands-on workshop will guide you through the process of creating your own tranquil tea garden, perfect for both cultivation and relaxation. We’ll explore everything from garden design to selecting the best tea plants and enjoy a delightful tea tasting to complement the experience.

What you’ll learn:

• Garden Design: Learn how to design a serene tea garden that invites relaxation and enhances the tea-drinking experience. We’ll cover layout, pathways, and creating a peaceful ambiance.

• Tea Plants & Selection: Discover the variety of tea plants, such as Camellia sinensis and herbal varieties, and understand how to select the right ones for your climate and garden.

• Arranging for Beauty & Function: Learn how to arrange plants to create an aesthetically pleasing and functional garden. We’ll discuss companion planting, layering, and integrating seating areas for enjoying your tea.

• Tea Tasting: Experience the flavors of freshly brewed tea made from your garden plants. We’ll guide you through a tasting session so you can savor the full potential of your garden’s harvest.

Spring is Here – The Farmstand is Reopening!

Spring is here, and every day has been busy with projects and basic farm clean-up. Each morning, I write a list of chores, only to find it growing longer the moment I step outside. The hardest part is having patience—learning to break projects down into smaller tasks or manageable time frames. A couple of hours weeding the flower beds, one hour mowing the grass—small efforts, but over a week, these tasks add up, and projects can finally be checked off the list. It's just me, and there are endless things to do each day.

Right now, the focus is on reopening the farmstand for the season! Opening day will be April 5th, from 9 AM to 5 PM. After that, our regular hours will be Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 9 AM to 5 PM. The farmstand will be closed on Sundays, as this day will be reserved for classes, workshops, and picnic reservations. On Opening Day, we will have three guest farmers join us. Dolly Farms has handmade pastries and bread, Lockewood Acres has organic produce and farm-raised pork, and Intergrity Alpaca has innovative wool pellets to use as fertilizer.

To stay updated each week on stocked items at the farmstand, visit us during open hours or follow us on Instagram for the latest news and guest farmers! We will have fresh bread, local honey, books on gardening and farming, jams, fresh produce, heirloom seeds, and a few surprises! The farmstand always has something new as the seasons change and farmers show up with goods to sell. We work with about ten small family farmers at the moment.

TWO UPCOMING CLASSES: Soul Food Farm is teaching two workshops with friends and Morningsun Herb Farm

Classes and Events

We are super excited to share the first of our 2025 Design Intensives!

2025 Design Intensives with Homestead Design Collective, Morningsun Herb Farm & Soul Food Farm

April 16, 2025 The Cut Flower Garden: Design, Plants & Arrangement at Soul Food Farms in Vacaville, Ca 10am -12:30pm

Whether you’re looking to add a cutting garden to your existing landscape or start from scratch, this class will give you the tools to grow your own fresh flowers and create beautiful arrangements to enjoy in your home. Join us for a fun, informative, and creative gardening experience!

What you’ll learn:

• Designing a Cut Flower Garden: Learn how to design a garden that prioritizes beauty, practicality, and a continuous supply of blooms. We’ll guide you through the best layouts for easy harvesting and maximizing visual impact.

• Choosing Plants for Palette & Fragrance: Explore a variety of flowers and plants to create a harmonious color palette that suits your style. We’ll discuss how to select flowers for both visual appeal and fragrance, ensuring your garden is a sensory delight.

• Arranging & Caring for Cut Flowers: Learn the art of flower arrangement, from simple bouquets to more elaborate designs. We’ll also cover essential care tips for extending the life of your cut flowers and keeping your garden thriving all season long.

May 21, 2025 Tea Garden: Design, Plants & Arrangement at a private garden in Lafayette, Ca 10am - 12:30pm

Step into the soothing world of tea with our Tea Garden Design class! This hands-on workshop will guide you through the process of creating your own tranquil tea garden, perfect for both cultivation and relaxation. We’ll explore everything from the art of garden design to selecting the best tea plants and even enjoy a delightful tea tasting to complement the experience.

What you’ll learn:

• Garden Design: Learn how to design a serene tea garden that invites relaxation and enhances the tea-drinking experience. We’ll cover layout, pathways, and creating a peaceful ambiance.

• Tea Plants & Selection: Discover the variety of tea plants, such as Camellia sinensis and herbal varieties, and understand how to select the right ones for your climate and garden.

• Arranging for Beauty & Function: Learn how to arrange plants to create an aesthetically pleasing and functional garden. We’ll discuss companion planting, layering, and integrating seating areas for enjoying your tea.

• Tea Tasting: Experience the flavors of freshly brewed tea made from your garden plants. We’ll guide you through a tasting session so you can savor the full potential of your garden’s harvest.

Thank you for reading our Substack and being part of Soul Food Farm

Alexis Koefoed

A tired old farmer lady, and it’s only spring!

Dear Subscribers;

Spring has sprung, and we’re excited to announce the reopening of Soul Food Farm Reserve, The Farmstand for 2025! After overcoming last year’s challenges with our local County Resource Management, we can now return to building a beautiful farmstand that serves as a source of healthy, farm-fresh food, grown in collaboration with local farmers from Solano County and the surrounding region.

At Soul Food Farm, we have always valued beauty, form, and function in our projects. The farmstand embodies these principles—a beautiful space with a well-designed format for showcasing local produce and the functionality of working with small farmers to bridge the gap between field and customer.

We want you to know your farmers, so stay tuned for our Guest Farmer Days. These are special days when farmers set up shop here at Soul Food Farm and bring all the products they produce, including meat. Meat can only be sold directly from the farmer to the customer, so you’ll definitely want to stock up. For quick, up-to-date daily news and items for sale at the farmstand, follow us on Instagram, Soul Food Farm.

This year, we’re bringing back old favorites like Dolly Farms pastries, Acme bread and produce from Lockwood Acres, plus Unleashed Coffee will join us on Saturdays. Soul Food Farm olive oil, cut flowers, honey, herbs, and specialty crops will grace the shelves. We’ve also added new items to enhance your farmstand experience:
• Books on farming and gardening
• Chicken feed from a local mill
• Value-added products from new farmers
• Some delightful surprises

Additionally, we’ll be taking orders for our delicious orange olive oil cake, made by yours truly! Order options open April 1st on our website soulfoodfarm.com.

FARMSTAND Opening Day: April 5th, 9 AM – 5 PM

Regular Hours After April 5th: Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, 9 AM – 5 PM

Sundays will be reserved for workshops or private picnics booked at the farm.

Thank you for following along with Soul Food Farm and supporting us since our inception. We look forward to welcoming you back to the farmstand!

If you enjoy reading our Substack, please consider becoming a paid subscriber to support our work. We strive to offer valuable content and share good information.

You can also enjoy daily photos and musings on Soul Food Farm Instagram

For our story, visit www.soulfoodfarm.com

MORE NEWS:

Classes and Events

We are super excited to share the first of our 2025 Design Intensives with you all.

March 23, 2025 - The Fragrant Garden: Design, Plants & Arrangement at Morningsun Herb Farm in Vacaville, Ca 10am - 12:30pm

Immerse yourself in the world of scent and beauty with our Fragrant Garden Design class! In this hands-on workshop, we’ll guide you through the essential aspects of creating a garden that delights the senses, with a focus on fragrance. You’ll learn how to design a space that is not only visually appealing but also rich in aromatic experiences.

What you’ll learn:

• Design Principles: Discover how to design a fragrant garden that thrives in your environment, taking into account factors like light, space, and scent layering.

• Plant Palette & Selection: Explore a variety of aromatic plants, including flowers, herbs, and shrubs, and learn how to select the best varieties for your garden's conditions.

• Arranging for Fragrance: Understand how to arrange plants to maximize fragrance, whether it's by placing them near pathways, seating areas, or windows, ensuring an immersive experience.

April 13, 2025 The Cut Flower Garden: Design, Plants & Arrangement at Soul Food Farms in Vacaville, Ca 10am -12:30pm

Whether you’re looking to add a cutting garden to your existing landscape or start from scratch, this class will give you the tools to grow your own fresh flowers and create beautiful arrangements to enjoy in your home. Join us for a fun, informative, and creative gardening experience!

What you’ll learn:

• Designing a Cut Flower Garden: Learn how to design a garden that prioritizes beauty, practicality, and a continuous supply of blooms. We’ll guide you through the best layouts for easy harvesting and maximizing visual impact.

• Choosing Plants for Palette & Fragrance: Explore a variety of flowers and plants to create a harmonious color palette that suits your style. We’ll discuss how to select flowers for both visual appeal and fragrance, ensuring your garden is a sensory delight.

• Arranging & Caring for Cut Flowers: Learn the art of flower arrangement, from simple bouquets to more elaborate designs. We’ll also cover essential care tips for extending the life of your cut flowers and keeping your garden thriving all season long.

May 21, 2025 Tea Garden: Design, Plants & Arrangement at a private garden in Lafayette, Ca 10am - 12:30pm

Step into the soothing world of tea with our Tea Garden Design class! This hands-on workshop will guide you through the process of creating your own tranquil tea garden, perfect for both cultivation and relaxation. We’ll explore everything from the art of garden design to selecting the best tea plants, and even enjoy a delightful tea tasting to complement the experience.

What you’ll learn:

• Garden Design: Learn how to design a serene tea garden that invites relaxation and enhances the tea-drinking experience. We’ll cover layout, pathways, and creating a peaceful ambiance.

• Tea Plants & Selection: Discover the variety of tea plants, such as Camellia sinensis and herbal varieties, and understand how to select the right ones for your climate and garden.

• Arranging for Beauty & Function: Learn how to arrange plants to create an aesthetically pleasing and functional garden. We’ll discuss companion planting, layering, and integrating seating areas for enjoying your tea.

• Tea Tasting: Experience the flavors of freshly brewed tea made from your very own garden plants. We’ll guide you through a tasting session, so you can savor the full potential of your garden’s harvest.

Happy Spring

Alexis Koefoed

There is no one quick fix to rebuild our middle class or raise those behind us, to participate in the American dream of a good education, stable employment, and the opportunity to buy a home and raise a family. But we can do what we can within our sphere of influence.

We can do hard things!

Join us for an exciting journey into the world of raising chickens and enjoy the rewards of fresh, homegrown eggs! Whether you're a budding farmer or have some experience with feathered friends, this hands-on class is tailor-made for you.

Discover the A to Z of nurturing baby chicks into happy, egg-laying hens. From selecting and acquiring your adorable baby chicks to the joyful moment when those first eggs appear in the nest, we've got you covered.

Whether you dream of a bustling backyard flock or want to enjoy fresh eggs for your family, this class is your key to success. We welcome both beginners and experienced farmers looking to fine-tune their skills.

As a bonus, you'll leave with a comprehensive handout as your reference guide and newfound confidence to embark on your chicken-raising adventure. PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A ZOOM CLASS ONLY. We will send out the Zoom link and the workshop guide two days before the class.

So, come ready to connect with fellow chicken enthusiasts and immerse yourself in the world of poultry farming!

Event Details

Saturday March 8th , 2025

10 am - 12 Noon

Cost : $30 Per Person

Link For Chicken Workshop

Website: www.soulfoodfarm.com

Enjoy -

Stefani & Alexis

Daffodils are like a poem, a spring flower that comes in endless hues of yellow, white, and cream, effortlessly adding a touch of romance to the spring garden. The genus of this bulb is Narcissus, which is our preferred way to identify this beloved flower.

In the Garden

Narcissus are the organic gardener’s natural deer & gopher repellant. The foliage discourages deer, the bulbs deter gophers from digging their tunnels nearby. Please note that the all parts of the daffodil are considered toxic if digested - the bulb, flowers & foliage - so make sure to not feed these plants to your backyard hens or ducks. The bees and other pollinators, however, love daffodils as they provide early-season nectar. Making this bulb a must for the backyard orchard.

Plant daffodil bulbs in full-sun areas of your garden. They appreciate well drained soil, so if you have a slope or hillside this is an ideal location. Plant the bulbs in clusters of 5 to 7 (or more!), the bulbs do not mind being a bit crowded and the affect is quite beautiful. Traditionally, organic gardeners line their outside fences with daffodils to deter deer and gophers from entering their garden space. Likewise, plant groups of the bulbs at the base of raised beds or planters to help keep gophers away.

We think daffodils look their best when planted in groupings in meadow & orchard plantings along a fence or pathway. If you want to be adventurous and have the space, hundreds can be planted out in a field or a large section of the garden to create a carpet of flowers in springtime. And don’t forget the timeless elegance of Terra cotta pots filled with daffodils.

Now is the time to make note of varieties you love as they start to bloom, adding them to your fall bulb shopping list. Planning what bulbs to buy and how many to order so that you are ready when the bulb companies open up their stocks, typically in late summer. Once ordered, the bulbs typically arrive in the fall, which is the perfect time to plant bulbs for the following spring. (We like to get our bulbs in the ground no later than early November - we are in zone 9b) . Favorite fragrant varieties for arrangements include: ‘Replete’, ‘Erlicheer’ & ‘White Lion’. Longfields Gardens Trumpet Mix is a favorite for naturalizing on a hillside.

Harvest & Arranging

When spring finally arrives, you’ll want to cut these softly fragrant flowers and bring them into the house. Cutting daffodils for an arrangement is easy and here are a few steps to follow for the longest vase life:

1. Cut flowers in the morning, selecting a mix of some with closed buds and others that are partially or fully open. Cut as low to the bottom of the stem as possible. The different stages of the flower petals unfurling gives your arrangement a more dynamic and interesting look. After cutting them place them in a bucket of clean, fresh water.

2. Don’t mix your daffodils with other flowers while cutting them from the garden. Daffodils release a sap from their cut stems that is toxic to other flowers.

3. Let them hydrate for at least six hours in a cool area in clean water. If the sap makes the water cloudy, change it out. During this time, the cut stems will callous over. Once the flowers have had a few hours to hydrate and release the sap you can combine daffodils with other flowers to create a mixed bouquet

4. To create a graceful arrangement, cut the flowers at different lengths and ensure that each bloom has enough space to be seen and appreciated

With some simple planning, you can enjoy a spring filled with these early flowers, bringing charm to your home and delight to your garden.

Classes and Events

We are super excited to share the first of our 2025 Design Intensives with you all.

March 23, 2025 - The Fragrant Garden: Design, Plants & Arrangement at Morningsun Herb Farm in Vacaville, Ca 10am - 12:30pm

Immerse yourself in the world of scent and beauty with our Fragrant Garden Design class! In this hands-on workshop, we’ll guide you through the essential aspects of creating a garden that delights the senses, with a focus on fragrance. You’ll learn how to design a space that is not only visually appealing but also rich in aromatic experiences.

What you’ll learn:

• Design Principles: Discover how to design a fragrant garden that thrives in your environment, taking into account factors like light, space, and scent layering.

• Plant Palette & Selection: Explore a variety of aromatic plants, including flowers, herbs, and shrubs, and learn how to select the best varieties for your garden's conditions.

• Arranging for Fragrance: Understand how to arrange plants to maximize fragrance, whether it's by placing them near pathways, seating areas, or windows, ensuring an immersive experience.

April 13, 2025 The Cut Flower Garden: Design, Plants & Arrangement at Soul Food Farms in Vacaville, Ca 10am -12:30pm

Whether you’re looking to add a cutting garden to your existing landscape or start from scratch, this class will give you the tools to grow your own fresh flowers and create beautiful arrangements to enjoy in your home. Join us for a fun, informative, and creative gardening experience!

What you’ll learn:

• Designing a Cut Flower Garden: Learn how to design a garden that prioritizes beauty, practicality, and a continuous supply of blooms. We’ll guide you through the best layouts for easy harvesting and maximizing visual impact.

• Choosing Plants for Palette & Fragrance: Explore a variety of flowers and plants to create a harmonious color palette that suits your style. We’ll discuss how to select flowers for both visual appeal and fragrance, ensuring your garden is a sensory delight.

• Arranging & Caring for Cut Flowers: Learn the art of flower arrangement, from simple bouquets to more elaborate designs. We’ll also cover essential care tips for extending the life of your cut flowers and keeping your garden thriving all season long.

May 21, 2025 Tea Garden: Design, Plants & Arrangement at a private garden in Lafayette, Ca 10am - 12:30pm

Step into the soothing world of tea with our Tea Garden Design class! This hands-on workshop will guide you through the process of creating your own tranquil tea garden, perfect for both cultivation and relaxation. We’ll explore everything from the art of garden design to selecting the best tea plants, and even enjoy a delightful tea tasting to complement the experience.

What you’ll learn:

• Garden Design: Learn how to design a serene tea garden that invites relaxation and enhances the tea-drinking experience. We’ll cover layout, pathways, and creating a peaceful ambiance.

• Tea Plants & Selection: Discover the variety of tea plants, such as Camellia sinensis and herbal varieties, and understand how to select the right ones for your climate and garden.

• Arranging for Beauty & Function: Learn how to arrange plants to create an aesthetically pleasing and functional garden. We’ll discuss companion planting, layering, and integrating seating areas for enjoying your tea.

• Tea Tasting: Experience the flavors of freshly brewed tea made from your very own garden plants. We’ll guide you through a tasting session, so you can savor the full potential of your garden’s harvest.

If you enjoy reading our Substack, please consider becoming a paid subscriber to support our work, offer valuable content, and share good information.

You can also enjoy daily photos and musings on Soul Food Farm Instagram

For our story, visit www.soulfoodfarm.com

Alexis Koefoed

The Trump administration issued a memo by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) calling for a funding freeze on thousands of federal programs, pending review by the administration on January 27th, which affected farm grants.

On or about Feb. 3, the administration ordered the closure of the Washington, D.C., headquarters of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). This affected farmers who had contracts with the Federal government to sell them food for USAID's food aid program.

Both the Federal Funding Freeze and the Closure of USAID affected farmers who were involved with contracts with the Federal government. Both issues have created a simultaneous cascading effect on U.S. farmer's livelihoods and farm businesses.

While USAID and the USDA are separate agencies, the targeting of both has created a joint problem in the agricultural world.

I hope this helps.